Ranger Services

The Bellingen Shire Council Ranger Services play a significant role towards making our community a better place to live. Rangers work with the local community and other government agencies to promote compliance through both education and enforcement.

  • Rangers provide core services during normal office hours, Monday to Friday on (02) 6655 7300
  • The Rangers are also on call after hours for emergency matters only. These include public safety issues such as stock on public roads and serious dog attacks.
  • To report all after hours emergencies, please telephone (02) 6655 7300

The Rangers have a broad range of duties to conduct on behalf of Council and include such things as parking patrol, animal control, illegal waste dumping, general environmental protection and public safety and order, including the movement of stock from public roads and road reserves, community consultation and education in relation to law and enforcement matters.

Much of the work done by rangers results from requests from members of the community and often involves an investigation. In attempting to find solutions, our rangers attempt to help the community as a whole.

The Rangers ensure that a balance is provided to enable consistency in law enforcement to keep people safe as well as maintain the enjoyment of the local area and lifestyle for people within the community.

What the rangers don’t do

  • Seize roaming cats. There is no offence in the NSW Companion Animals act relating to cats being in a public place or not being under effective control as there is for dogs (unless that public place is a ‘food preparation area’ or ‘wildlife protection area’). Rangers have no power or authority to take any action for roaming cats and cannot impound a cat in a public place without evidence that the cat is a nuisance or to protect any person or animal (other than vermin) from injury or death.

  • Supply animal registration or identification tags. RVC Rangers identify companion animals by scanning them for a microchip. All identifying information for the animal should be contained in the NSW Companion Animal Register, including whether the animal is lifetime registered. Companion animal registration now lasts for the lifetime of the animal and no further fee is payable. The NSW Companion Animals Act states that dogs must wear a collar and tag at all times (unless they are on their own property or they are a working dog) and cats must either be microchipped or wear a collar and tag (unless they are on their own property). All tags must show at least the name of the animal and the address or telephone number of the animal’s owner.

  • Investigate animal welfare, cruelty or abuse matters. Rangers have no powers or authority to investigate or take action regarding offences under the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, this is done by the NSW RSPCA.

  • Install, remove or repair RVC Infrastructure. Infrastructure such as signs, road markings, roads, paths bollards are installed by either RVC’s Engineering Operations section or the RTA in partnership with the Local Traffic Committee. The local traffic committee has members from NSW Police, the RTA and RVC and make decisions regarding the location of local traffic control infrastructure.

  • Collect or care for sick/injured native animals (e.g. kangaroos, wombats, possums, native birds, native reptiles This role is performed by WIRES, a volunteer organisation.

  • Catch, trap or destroy swooping magpies.

  • Provide a boarding or agistment service for animals.

  • Provide veterinary services (e.g. desexing, vaccination, health checks etc)

  • Remove wasp, hornet or bee nests or swarms. On private property this is the responsibility of the property owner, on public property Council can arrange removal if there is a risk to public safety or other hazard.

  • Trap, remove or destroy pest animals (e.g. indian myna birds, pigeons, rats, mice). This is the responsibility of the owner of the property where the problem is occurring and may require the engagement of a pest control company.

 

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