Skip/ Bin Permits: Information Sheet

SKIP/ BIN PERMITS: INFORMATION SHEET BCFrm02

A permit is required before placing a Skip/ Bin in position Placing a Skip/ Bin on Council land – including a road, footpath or nature strip, requires consideration of issues relating to public safety, amenity, drainage, and potential damage to road surfaces or other such public assets. For those reasons any person intending to place a Skip/ Bin on Council land must first apply for and obtain a permit issued under Stonnington City Council Local Law No. 1. Penalties apply if a Skip/ Bin is placed on Council land without a permit being obtained beforehand, or if the Skip/ Bin is placed in an unauthorised position or contrary to permit conditions, or the Skip/ Bin remains on site after the permit expires. On the spot Infringement Notices may be issued or penalties may be sought by Magistrates Court prosecution. Compliance is monitored by Council field officers. An application form must be lodged with or sent to Building & Local Law Services, Stonnington Council Offices, 311 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, telephone 8290 3218. The mailing address is PO Box 21 PRAHRAN, 3181. Alternatively, applications may be faxed to 9521 2255 or emailed to: [email protected]. The applicant for Skip/ Bin permits is normally the company that supplies the bin. Most of these companies are aware of the Council’s requirements and have the necessary Public Liability Insurance policies in place. Public Liability Insurance cover is required This means that in regard to placing the Skip/ Bin, evidence of a public liability insurance policy with minimum cover of $5,000,000 is necessary for the whole period of the permit (and any approved extension thereof). Cost of permit (2016/17) A Skip/ Bin permit for a period of up to: . 1 to 3 days costs $56, . 4 to 7 days costs $70, . 8 to 31 days costs $166. If an extension is required, the applicant named in the permit must notify Council in writing and pay the fees (the same scale of fees apply) for that extra period, before the expiry date of the then current permit period. Approval of such extensions cannot be assumed. Prior to a permit being approved, Council may decide that advising nearby residents of the proposal is required and in that event, a minimum fee of $60 (incl. GST) applies. That fee covers up to 15 notifications. If more are required a fee of $6 for each applies, to a maximum of $150. Notification may occur if, for example, unusual traffic management measures will be required. Refer to the standard conditions (printed on back of this document) for detailed requirements as to siting and setting up skips/ bins. Those special conditions include requirements about –  Roads on which there are parking restrictions (for example: no standing areas etc) or are designated as major roads  Preserving minimum clearances along footpaths and roadways for pedestrians and vehicles  Marking of bins with reflective tape  The applicant’s obligation to assess and determine siting and the need for flashing lights having regard to public safety and the particular locality etc. Note also, that:  Placement of skips/ bins on a road, which is a Public Bus or Tram Route lanes, or in a laneway, is rarely approved - unless extraordinary circumstances apply. If a site in a laneway is necessary, the Council’s Transport Department considers each case on its merits and if such a siting is considered feasible, prior consultation with residents whose access may be affected is carried out. The cost of notifying such residents must be paid by the applicant – see above for fees that apply.

Building & Local Law Services Stonnington Council Offices, 311 Glenferrie Road, MALVERN Mailing address: PO Box 21 PRAHRAN, Vic 3181 Telephone: 8290 3218 Fax: 9521 2255 Ausdoc: DX 30108  Skips/ Bins must be placed outside the property specified in the application, unless there are exceptional circumstances and the applicant provides written consent of the resident of another nearby property to placement outside that property.  A permit may include special conditions that must be observed by the applicant in addition to all standard conditions. Marking of Bins with Reflective Tape Standard condition 2 requires marking of bins with reflective tape. Vic Roads advises that tape material which complies is: 3M™ Scotchlite™ Diamond Grade™ Conspicuity sheeting, 983-71ES- Yellow. It is available in rolls 55mm wide x 50m long from suppliers including: Reflective Fabrications of Australia of Clayton South, telephone 9562 8889; DeNeefe Signs of Eltham, 9431 0999; RMS of Bayswater, 9729 9111 and Ramair of Mitcham, 9873 2466.

All Skip/ Bin permits are issued subject to the following standard conditions and the applicant , named as such in the permit, is responsible at all times for ensuring compliance with these and any special conditions that are applicable: 1. The skip/ bin must be placed so that–  clear access is available along the adjacent footpath – must be a minimum of at least 1.5 metres wide, or a minimum of 1 metre in cases where either pedestrian volumes are low, or at points where there are fixtures such as poles, trees, seats, fire hydrants, street refuse bins etc. that are within the normal minimum of one and a half metres  clear access is available along the adjacent road or laneway – must be a minimum of at least 3 metres within the carriageway (kerb to kerb)  effective access is allowed for disabled persons  if placed on a road, it is positioned as close, and parallel, to the kerb as practicable  access is available to premises in the vicinity by service or delivery vehicles  it does not block driveways, or create undue hazards for motorists using driveways, to nearby properties  it is not in a location to which parking restrictions apply, and any no standing, loading zone, clearway or other such restrictions are observed, including signed restrictions that prohibit parking during stated hours to allow for scheduled street sweeping  it is not in a position in which the stopping of motor vehicles is prohibited under Victorian Road legislation, such as – (a) within 20 m of an intersection with traffic lights, or within 10 m of an intersection without traffic lights; (b) within 20 m before and 10 m after a school crossing, pedestrian crossing or bus stop; (c) within 10 m before a tram safety zone or tram stop, or within 10 m after a tram safety zone; (d) within 20 m either side of a railway crossing, a taxi or bus zone; or (e) on a median strip or traffic island.  it does not cover, obstruct ready access to, or block drainage pits or entry points, or gutters, or grates or lids that provide access to underground services;  no damage is caused to the road or road reserve assets;  if placed in Chapel Street, Commercial Road, and, Toorak Road between Rockley Road and Punt Road, the skip/ bin is not left overnight – that is, skips/ bins are prohibited in those locations between sunset and sunrise each day; and  it is, unless otherwise specifically approved because of exceptional circumstances, immediately adjacent to the property owned or occupied by the person or corporation who hires or arranges for the skip/ bin to be supplied. 2. The skip/ bin must –  have printed or displayed clearly on it – the name and current 24 hour contact telephone number of the company or person that owns or supplies it; and  be labelled with microprismatic retroreflective yellow tape, bearing the European “E” on “C” class material. The tape must be pressure sensitive and applied in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and instructions and must be maintained in excellent condition at all times. The tape must be a minimum of 50 mm wide and be placed on the skip/ bin in eight positions, at about eye level for motorists, that is in two places on each of the four external faces of the skip/ bin. Refer also to notes and an illustration of these requirements (separately provided). 3. The applicant is responsible for assessing and deciding whether, from a public safety viewpoint, provision of flashing lights is also required and to provide them in accordingly. Applicants are advised to consider such lights in heavily trafficked areas, where there are vertical or horizontal curves in the road that may reduce visibility, where background lighting conditions may reduce the effectiveness of the tape, in narrow streets or in unit areas. 4. Materials placed in the skip/ bin must not –  comprise any food waste or any material that may rot or cause offensive odours or other nuisance to residents or road users; and  overfill the skip/ bin, so that they can spill out, or be blown, onto the adjacent area, or cause nuisance to pedestrians or other road users. 5. Any materials that spill, or are deposited, outside of the skip/ bin, or in the vicinity of it, must be promptly removed and the area maintained in a clean condition at all times by the applicant. 6. If the road or road assets are damaged as a result of the skip bin being placed on, or removed from, the site or whilst there, as a result of its use, the applicant named in the permit is responsible for repairs and reinstatement costs. All repairs are carried out by Council. The applicant must advise Council immediately of any such damage (contact details are shown below). 7. The Public Liability Insurance Policy which relates to the placement of the skip or bin, and of which evidence was provided by the applicant prior to the permit being issued, must remain current for the period of the permit and any extension thereof. 8. The applicant must ensure that the skip/ bin is removed on or before the expiry date stated in the permit. (If an extension is required an application must be made and approved.) 9. If after a permit is issued, it is cancelled, suspended or amended by an Authorised Officer of the Council and notice to that effect is given to the applicant –  the skip/ bin must if required be immediately removed; and  any person who is dissatisfied with the decision may appeal to the Council within 7 days, but until the Council decides otherwise, the Permit remains cancelled, suspended or amended (as the case may be). 10. The applicant or his or her representative, when requested, must produce for inspection the skip/ bin permit issued. Failure, neglect or refusal to do so, may incur a penalty under the Local Law. Requests may be made by an Authorised Officer of Council or a member of the Police Force. 11. The applicant must ensure the person delivering and picking up the skip/ bin is aware of the permit conditions and complies with them. 12. The applicant must ensure the person who hires the skip/ bin is aware of the permit conditions, including limitations specified in condition no. 4 above.

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY PERMIT CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A PENALTY OF UP TO $2,000