Supermarket operators will face an on-the-spot fine of $660 for failing to collect abandoned shopping trolleys from public places under reforms to NSW's Impounding Act.
The reforms would see owners of shopping trolleys, unregistered cars and trailers and stray stock to be fined if they do not remove them from public places within risk-based timeframes.
NSW Local Government Minister, Shelley Hancock, introduced the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Bill 2021 to Parliament last week.
The bill will allow councils to issue on-the-spot fines in a similar way fines are issued for parking infringements.
These will apply if an abandoned trolley is not collected from a public place within three hours of being notified it is causing an obstruction or safety risk, or within seven days of being notified it is left unattended in a public place.
A further 10 per cent ($66) would be added to the fine for each additional trolley in the same spot (up to 11 in total).
Individual retailers would face a court-imposed penalty of up to $2,750 and a maximum of $13,750 for corporations for more serious offences. Exemptions would apply for small businesses.
Oatley MP Mark Coure, who chaired two workshops on the problem this year, said it cost the NSW community $17 million a year to deal with abandoned and unattended shopping trolleys, vehicles and animals in public places.
"These reforms will cut these costs by 60 per cent saving at least $9.7 million a year for public land managers."
