NSW GOVERNMENT INQUIRY INTO BEEKEEPING - Message from ABA
From: gordon/mossman < asylum@one.net.au >
To: < bindaree.bee@bigpond.com >
Subject: Less beekeepers, less sales???
Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2000 8:24 AM
Dear Beekeeper/Member,
As you may know, following the regretable death of a woman in the city,
there is to be an inquiry into the keeping of bees within densely populated
residential areas.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL BEEKEEPERS RESPOND TO THIS INQUIRY, OR WE MAY FACE
THE BANNING OF BEES IN URBAN AREAS. THIS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO OTHER
CITIES AND TOWN AROUND NSW, NOT JUST SYDNEY.
We need every beekeeper to write a submission. Even the beekeepers' next
door neighbour, or local gardeners who enjoy the pollination that bees
provide.
HOW WILL YOU DO IT?
· Answer the questions below which are the terms of reference for the inquiry,
· or use the attached document to get ideas from,
· please send it by 30th April 2000 ny snail mail or by email
If you have any questions, please contact your beekeeping association to
assist you.
Yours in beekeeping
Sue Mossman
Vice President ABA of NSW Inc
_________________________________________________________
New South Wales Government
INQUIRY INTO BEEKEEPING
The NSW Government has initiated an inquiry into the keeping of bee hives
within densely populated residential areas. The Department of Agriculture
and the Department of Local Government will undertake the inquiry which
will address the following terms of reference.
1. Identify the extend to which bees are kept in urban areas of New South
Wales.
2. Assess the level of risk to humans posed by keeping of bees in these areas.
3. Identify the benefits of the current level of apiary activity in this area.
4. Identify and assess the adequacy of existing regulatory and
non-regulatory measures.
5. Make recommendations on any additional measures which should be taken by
State Government, Local Government and/or industry and, if regulatory
measures are recommended, an appropriate process for public consultation
and development of the regulatory scheme.
The Inquiry Team is seeking information from a wide range of people and
organisations including members of the public, beekeepers and other
government agencies on issues considered relevant to the terms of reference.
The closing date for submissions is 30 April 2000
Submissions should be forwarded to Dr Regina Fogarty at NSW Agriculture,
Locked Bag 21, Orange 2800 or by email at regina.fogarty@agric.nsw.gov.au
_________________________________________________________
PLEASE USE THE SAMPLE BELOW AS A GUIDE FOR YOUR SUBMISSION, OR WRITE
SOMETHING ELSE TO REFLECT YOUR THOUGHTS.
REMEMBER SUBMISSION CLOSE 30 APRIL 2000
SAMPLE
Date:
Dr Fogarty,
NSW Agriculture,
Locked Bag 21,
Orange 2800,
Dear Dr Fogarty,
Re: Submission for Inquiry into Bee Keeping
1) I am registered with ____ beehives, I keep _ beehives in an urban area.
2) I have kept these bees for _ years, and there has been no complaint of
my bees to my knowledge. I also assist the community by collecting feral
swarms as a public service. I have taken great care in how I keep my bees
to reduce any risk to my neighbours. I never work the bees while they are
outside in the yard, and the flight path is directed over my house not into
their yards, I provide water and I requeen regularly to keep the bees
quiet. I also talk to my neighbours about beekeeping so they are not afraid.
3) I think the current level of beekeeping benefits many people. The
benefits to me include:
· An important hobby and interest to me which gives me pleasure,
· Close to nature, environmentally friendly
· Assists with food production
· Supplements my income,
· My neighbours can now grow pumpkins and other plants that need pollination
· As an active member of the Amateur Beekeepers Association, I assist with
teaching at field days, local schools and shows and other community groups
4) This is only the second recorded incident (although regrettable) in over
30 years from managed bee hives. I would like one controlling body for
beekeeping and recommend that this remain with NSW Agriculture due to their
current expertise.
5) The adoption of the Code of Practice could be one way to regulate bees
better, as well as identifying unregistered bee hives, and providing
multilingual and plain english information on urban beekeeping.
Yours faithfully,
____________
Draft Code of Practice for Bee Keeping (Apis Mellifera) in NSW Rev 12/4/00
Aims:
To allow the keeping of bees in a manner compatible to the area in which
they are located and to encourage the keeping of bees in such a way to be
acceptable to the general public
Objectives
To ensure public safety and social amenity
To encourage good beekeeping practice
To educate and maintain public and neighbourhood relations
Definition:
A hive is a colony of bees headed by a queen bee
Recommended number of permanent hives
Up to 500 square metres 2 hives
500 to 1000 square metres 4 hives
over 1000 to 2000 square metres 8 hives
over 2000 square metres no limit
Method to help achieve the aims and objectives:
· Flight paths should be above 2 metres when crossing the property
boundaries. This may be achieved by using screens, shrubs, walls hedges
fences etc. (therefore there is no need to set distances between hives and
building)
· Hives should be sited in a warm sunny location to enhance the health of
bees.
· Water should be provided for the bees
· A docile strain of bees should be kept in all hives
· Swarm Control methods should be regularly used and include:
· Requeening
· Population control
· Splitting into smaller hives
· Consider others when manipulating hives and plan work to cause the least
impact on neighbours
· Keep apiary neat and tidy
· Take care when mowing around hives. Mow when hives are not active. If
the hives are active, use a smoker.
· Communicate with neighbours about keeping
Beekeepers must be registered with NSW Agriculture and comply with the
Apiaries Act 1985. All beekeepers are encouraged to increase and update
their knowledge by attending field days, study courses and/or belonging to
a beekeeping association.
FastCounter by bCentral