New fence laws are set to make good neighbours out of Melton and Moorabool residents.
Fencing disputes are the number one issue facing residents in both Melton and Moorabool, but new legislation which came into effect last week will change that, according to state Attorney-General Robert Clark.
The new legislation makes laws on fences clearer, simpler and fairer and helps residents avoid the most common cause of disputes.
“Fencing disputes have typically been the number one issue for [the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria] and the new laws will help reduce the number of disputes,” Mr Clark said.
In the 2013-14 financial year, 150 fencing disputes in Melton and 34 in Moorabool were reported to the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.
Of those 184 cases, eight were referred for further mediation.
The new legislation makes it easier and more straightforward for people to reach agreement with neighbours about building, rebuilding or repairing boundary fences.
The laws set out clear rules and procedures on a range of fencing issues, including rules for carrying out and paying for fencing, and answer questions such as which side of the fence the posts and framing should be.
There will also be criteria to determine what sort of fence will be considered, based on things including the type of fences common in the neighbourhood. Melton city’s compliance manager, Ian Stewart, said the council welcomed the new laws as he believed they provided clarification on a number of the common fencing issues.
The new laws coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Dispute Settlement Centre, which helps Victorians with advice and mediation to prevent neighbourhood and community disputes from escalating.
For more information on the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria or fence laws, phone 1300 372 888 or visit www.disputes.vic.gov.au.
