A proposed overnight cat curfew is among the key measures in Hume City Council’s new draft Domestic Animal Management Plan, which is now open for public comment.
The curfew would require cats to be kept on their owners’ properties during designated hours in a bid to protect wildlife, reduce nuisance complaints, and improve animal welfare.
Council says the proposal follows “strong and consistent” community support identified in both the previous plan and recent consultations. If adopted, the curfew would be introduced in 2026, supported by public education campaigns and partnerships with animal welfare organisations.
Cllr Jim Overend said the measure responds to a sharp rise in cat numbers.
“In the 2024-25 year, 2,100 cats were impounded in Hume, which is a huge increase,” he said. “It just shows the amount of cats that are running feral out there. I have had many calls from residents requesting the trapping services eliminate these.
“The domestic animal management plan is an important strategic document. It outlines how we manage our pets, and this is really important for our community to have a read over it.”
During debate, Cllr Naim Kurt suggested council look at lowering registration fees.
“There is something like a $1.1 million shortfall [in registration fees] compared to the amount of pets and animals that exist out there,” Cllr Kurt said.
“That means those who are paying for their registrations are effectively covering the costs for those who have pets. If the rates were potentially lower, would that mean more people would sign up their pets? Will we end up with a bigger pot of money to run our animal services?”
Annual fees to register a domestic dog are $37 or $111 (concession $18/$55), and cat registration is $8, $25, or $75 (concessions $12/$36).
The draft plan focuses on responsible pet ownership, compliance with state laws, reducing dog attacks, and addressing overpopulation and nuisance issues.
Public submissions on the draft plan are open until 11 November 2025. Copies are available at council service centres, community hubs and libraries, or online via the Participate Hume website.
