HOMEOWNERS in the latest Thurgoona residential estate approved by Albury Council will be required to keep cats contained within their properties at all times.
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In a bid to curb ongoing roaming by domestic cats, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas, the restriction will apply to the sub-division at 47 Table Top Road where 26 housing lots and three public reserves were ticked off by council on Monday night.
Cat controls will be included on titles for any new property built in the estate with council not ruling out implementing the same measure for any future residential estates in the city.
But there is no move to apply the measure retrospectively.
Thirteen suburbs across Canberra have the 24/7 cat containment restriction with the move backed by RSPCA.
Planning and development director Michael Keys said enforcement could be in line with non-compliance of development consent which carried a fine of up to $3000.
“The exact mechanisms for the measures in which we would enforce this requirement are something we are proposing to be developed while the sub-division is being constructed,” he said.
Cr Darren Cameron asked why were “feline gulags” raised in this specific development.
“There has been some long and extensive debate regarding cat control, particularly in the Thurgoona area given the environmental sensitivities,” Mr Keys said.
“We're not banning them.
“They are still allowed to go outside, but we are requiring the owners to contain them within their properties.”