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Mr GEORGE (Lismore) [5.42 p.m.]: As a member of the local traffic committee that meets with the respective councils in the three major towns in my electorate—Lismore, Casino and Kyogle—and as the member of Parliament attending meetings of the Police Accountability Community Team [PACT] in Lismore and Casino, I express my concern about the problem of bicycles being ridden on footpaths in my electorate, an issue that is raised at each of those meetings. I am sure all members of this House have a similar problem in their electorates. The problem relates not only to bicycles but also to skateboards and scooters that are being ridden in the main shopping areas of these towns, with no respect being shown to the public. The concern raised with me is that people are powerless to take action against the riders. I raise the matter out of frustration, to alert the Minister for Local Government. I realise that he is a member of the other place, but I trust that the Minister in the chair may be able to assist in bringing the matter to his attention.
The riding of bicycles, scooters and skateboards on footpaths in the Casino central business district has escalated in recent times and has become a hazard to public safety. As a result, I have received numerous complaints about this issue, as have council and other members of the local traffic committee. Richmond Valley Council has taken a number of steps to address the problem, including the painting of pavement signs in various locations around the central business district that identify areas where bicycles are prohibited; the publishing of articles in local newspapers, as well as the posting to schools of memorandums that detail the problem, and advice of council's intention to police the situation; and undertaking regular foot patrols of prohibition areas, issuing warning and infringement notices to offenders.
Amendments to section 632 of the Local Government Act in March 2001 prohibit Richmond Valley Council from directing signage to prohibit bicycles being ridden on footpaths. The council has received advice that although this was not the intention of the change to section 632 (2A) (b), the amendment now renders council's use of this section to prohibit bicycles on the footpath null and void. Section 632 (2A) (b) of the Local Government Act provides that a notice must not prohibit or regulate the taking of a vehicle into, or the driving, parking or use of any vehicle in, any public place that is a road or road-related area within the meaning of the Road Transport (General) Act 1999.
We need to find a solution to this problem. At present police officers are authorised officers under Australian road rules and would be able to take the appropriate action. However, they believe that children under the age of 12 who are riding with their parents cannot be dealt with. Given the uncertain nature of current legislation under the Local Government Act, I urge the Minister for Local Government to work with the Minister for Police to ensure that the problem is addressed. The matter is of great concern to shoppers in the central business districts of the three towns I have referred to, and, as I said, I would be surprised if other members of this House do not have similar problems in their electorates. I urge the Minister for Local Government to examine section 632 (2A) (b) of the Local Government Act, address the issue, and give police and councils the power to control this problem that exists throughout the central business districts of regional and rural New South Wales.
Ms BEAMER (Mulgoa—Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Western Sydney, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Planning Administration)) [5.47 p.m.]: I undertake to ensure that the concerns raised by the honourable member for Lismore are brought to the attention of the Minister for Local Government, and that the Minister responds to his concerns and those of his community and the local councils in his electorate.