The council's hearings subcommittee yesterday considered six submissions on its proposed Keeping of Animals (Excluding Dogs) and Birds Bylaw.
The bylaw aimed to provide a more complete framework for the council to deal with complaints from the public relating to the keeping of animals and birds, including noise and offensive odours.
However, Strath Taieri Community Board chairman Barry Williams, of Middlemarch, told yesterday's hearing the bylaw would allow neighbours involved in "rows" to lodge complaints with council staff just to `get at their neighbours'.
"I think you have got to be careful if you are going to create something that will give more ammunition to people wanting to have a dig at their neighbours," he said.
Among the new requirements, the proposed bylaw would required animals on residentially-zoned properties to be kept in a manner that did not cause a nuisance or create a health risk to humans.
The council would have the power - enforceable through the district court if necessary - to force residential landowners keeping animals in small pens to collect manure, and either store it in fly-proof receptacles or bury it under 50mm of soil.
Council development services manager Kevin Thompson said the new rules could lead to more complaints being lodged, but that would not necessarily lead to more enforcement action.
Under the definition of nuisance, a landowner stockpiling large volumes of manure could be in breach of the bylaw, but someone spreading manure on their garden would not be, he said.
"It has to be a valid complaint," he said.
"I don't see there's going to be a sudden rush of complaints - not at all."
Mr Williams was the only submitter to completely oppose the bylaw.
Five others supported it, while raising individual points of concern.
The bylaw's wording had already been revised since it was unveiled in April and prompted concern from some landowners they would be required to collect droppings from their sheep and other animals.
The bylaw now applied only to residential properties - not rural residential or other properties - while rules about collecting manure applied only to animals confined in small pens.
Yesterday's hearing was delayed by 30 minutes for lack of a quorum, after Cr Michael Guest was forced to withdraw for personal reasons and Cr Bill Acklin arrived late, after confusion over the date of the hearing.
The hearings subcommittee - comprising chairwoman Cr Kate Wilson and Crs Dave Cull and Acklin - voted to recommend the proposed bylaw to the full council for final approval.
If adopted, the new rules are expected to come into force in November.
