By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA Councillors will cast their votes over whether to abolish cat registration from 1 October this year.
The matter was raised during council’s Infrastructure and Services Committee Meeting on Tuesday 22 July, with a decision expected to be made next week.
According to council reports, Noosa Council has about 1500 registered cats which make up less than 20 per cent of domestic cats in the shire.
In 2009, the State Government introduced the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, which required mandatory cat registration. However, the cat registration powers were handed back to councils on 10 September 2013, when the State Government passed the Agricultural and Forestry Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 that repealed state-wide mandatory cat registration.
The bill allows councils the option to either amend their local law to include a provision for cat registration, or elect not to continue with cat registration.
The cat registrations generates about $18,000 per year for Noosa Council, but the cost of managing the cat register, responding to cat complaints, generating accounts and following up on unregistered animals was “in excess of the income generated by cat registration”, according to council’s report.
Council documents said research found that micro-chipping rather than registration improves the percentage of cats re-united with their owners if they are lost or misplaced.
Cat registration has also been viewed negatively by some cat owners as revenue-raising.
“Registration of cats is seen by some residents as just another excuse for local governments to collect a fee; and a number of surrounding local councils are opting out of cat registration because of the minimal benefit to the community, little perceived benefit to cat owners and the fact that registration does not address most environmental concerns about the impact of feral cats,” the report read.
Noosa Council could follow in the footsteps of several other councils which have abolished cat registration including Brisbane Council, Gympie Council and Moreton Bay Councils.
“Recognising the negative impact feral cats have on the environment, Noosa Council will continue with its feral cat control program, even though cats will no longer be required to be registered,” the council report read.
Dog registration remains in place and residents are advised to contact Noosa Council with any concerns or questions on (07) 5329 6500.
