Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

No way would I get council involved in something thatis NOT their business.I HAVE applied forthe reoval of 3 large trees ,,,granted, I have applied for my current house extension ,granted,,,I have applied for permission for 3 chooks and up to 40 quail,,,granted.

When you approach a government department you NEED to accept the fact that these people are not allowed the luxury of using common sense, they are FORCED to be rule followers, YOU need to approach them on a factual researched basis.
Case one the tree's ,,,myapplication forremoval permission included a copy of a nearby councils orders that this tree was considered a noxious weed and allowed to be removed without council consent.The applicationalsoincluded picturesof 8 Australian native tree's(in pots) waiting to be plantedin thespaceleft by removal of the EVIL ,NON native trees. 3 days for approval.
Case 2,,house extension all planned WITHIN rules,,,submitted by a local architect that regularly deals with council,,,very fast approval.

Case3 , Chickens and Quail,,,I sent application along with drawing of cement based structure etc to meet requirements???? Council pointed out the plan did not include an"effluent" containement plan. I added a sketch of a rubble drain around the cement that led to a garden.Approval 3 days later.

these guys are NOT allowed to think,,,they have a little form that says "chicken approval"..... cement floor yes/no, no roosters yes/no,,, effluent containment plan yes/no.
Make their job easy and you get easy approval.

I hear you Chappo..... but if a neighbour says something to Council.... then it is their business.... whether you think it's your castle or not...

So far you've kept on side with council.... having discovered what I have... I'm just suggesting that your local council LEP might be a lot more restrictive than you think....

And that the concept ... that your "land".. is your "castle"..... probably just aint true no more mate.

Agree Rupe,,,so far I've been lucky????
I'm old enough to remember a famous interview between a TV journalist and a golf player called "Gary Player",,,conversation went like this,,,,Journalist,,Gary you where lucky with that 3 iron shot on the 14th,,,,Gary stopped,,thought a second or two and replied,,,YEP, I was lucky,,I've practiced that particular shot 100 times a day for the last 20years,,,you call it luck,,i call it planning.

Are their any regulations against gardens in your zoning area Rupe? If not claim it as a garden and fight them tooth and nail in the courts if they try to screw with you.

You can win neighbors over easily enough by giving them fresh produce...

Neighbours are all onside FG.... literally signed off on a "letter of consent" that I attached to my request for approval....

Spent the last few days reading through LEP. Planning and Environmental Acts etc....

Believe me... it's just plain scary... what you can't do.... at least without a formal DA.... even on "rural" land....and that includes in your backyard....

But there does appear to be loopholes...

And I was advised that "no-one is going to stop you growing your own food".....

Comes down to "size" and "intent" .....

And we wont even go near what the regs are involving "aquaculture".....

I'd be curious to see any rules/regulations on gardening. You may fine your loophole there I imagine.

Yep, you could fight it and possibly win FG...the problem is that Rope is in a rental property and all the council needs to do is put pressure on the owners and bi-pass Rope altogether...from my history lessons I recall it being named a "Pyrrhic victory"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

Rupe why don't you try a Green approach and suggest your business is helping save the planet by not using spray and fertilizer, plus saving valuable water supply, selling a completely organic product etc, once again take it up with your local MP, they are pushing for anything green

I hear you Nocky.... is being done....

i recall seeing some report on today tonight. same old garbage but this report was about some elite suburb on the coast. new neighbors moved in. there was an old native tree growing up next to their house. they complained that the tree was blocking the view and demanded it be removed. the council came out and did just that as part of regulation. if there was no report to the council it would have been left alone and still growing.

i guess one of my points is that some rich people feel its their duty to complain about everything as it makes them feel important.

also their is no community in those elite suburbs. each for their own. in my poor little suburb there is a strong community and if someone messes with a neighbor the whole neighborhood will know. therefor its in everyones business to keep a good reputation. there is very little gov presence as the community looks after itself.

so if you live in an elite area the chances are you will struggle to do anything commercial as the wrong people will know. if you live in a poor area you will probably get away with it unless your doing something stupid.

If i was starting again deffinatley shft pist done properley it rocks

I am pretty happy with my system setup so far .. as time goes on I will make it bigger though.

Next time however I will do a fishless cycle with urea .. never knew it existed till recently !

or just piss in it

Urea is a bit easier for the girls

...and to my eyes/ears