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How to Lodge a Petition with Council

Members of the Community can raise an item with Council by lodging a Petition with a Councillor.

Members of the Community can raise an item with Council by lodging a Petition with a Council.

There are some simple processes that need to be followed. Council's Policy 6.24 - Code of Meeting Practice.  It contains detailed information about lodging a Petition. To view a copy of the current Code of Meeting Practice visit our Public Policies page and search for code of meeting practice OR 6.24.

You can use our template to ensure your petition meets the criteria outlined below.  Each page of the petition should have the “Petition Statement” outlining the matter to be raised and action the petitioners would like Council to take.

If you need any further information, please contact Council’s Executive Assistants to the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer on 64992 222 or email execassist@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

In summary the process for lodging a Petition is:

  • Petitions may be received by the Council on public or individual matters provided that they relate to matters on which Council has the power to act.
  • Petitions can be provided to Council hard copy or via email. Eletronic petitions (e-petitions) may be accepted if they meet Council's criteria.
  • Petitions must include the full name, residential address and contact details of the principle petitioner and contain at least 50 signatures.
  • Persons signing a petition must be over 18 years of age, include their full name and residential address and their signature. Entries not meeting this criteria will not be counted as formal signatures to the petition.
  • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will determine the validity of a petition and provide a noting report to the next available Council meeting.  That report will indicate if any further report will be presented to Council.
  • A Councillor may lodge a written notice of motion asking for a formal report to be presented about a petition.
  • Where a petition relates to a current consultation process, including planning and development matters on which the Council has not made final determination, the petition will be considered as a group submission to that process.  An acknowledgement will be sent to the principal petitioner.
  • A petition about a Development Application received during its public exhibition will be considered as a submission to the exhibition.  An acknowledgement will be sent to the principal petitioner.
  • Petitions that relate to objections to environmental planning applications or to a planning decision that has already been made by Council are excluded, because other avenues already exist for those concerns to be addressed.  An acknowledgement will be sent to the principal petitioner.
  • A petition will not normally be considered where it is received within 24 months of another petition being considered by Council on the same matter or a substantively similar subject. When a petition is received on a similar subject to a previous petition, petitioners will be notified of the outcome of the previous petition if the Chief Executive Officer considers the issues raised have been addressed. 

© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024

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