Hive law confusion stings keepers

State and local government are divided over the number of bee hives that can be kept on Geelong properties, according to apiarists.
Geelong Beekeeping Club’s John Edmonds said a council local law contradicted a state-wide Apiary Code of Practice.
“The local law limits the keeping of animals but it includes bees, so theoretically, as I understand it, you can only keep two hives per property in the whole of the Geelong council area, even farms that need bees for pollination.
“The code of practice has worked very well and is part of the state planning scheme, so it overrides council local laws but it shows that council officers do not understand the rules.
“If you ban beekeeping then it goes underground and the problem is worse for locals because beekeepers cannot collect swarms without council issues.”
Council’s website says apiarists can only keep two hives but. Department of Sustainability and Environment’s (DSE) website says the code of practice allows from one hive on blocks smaller than 500sqm to an unlimited number on land over two hectares.
City of Greater Geelong officer Steve Sodomaco said the code of practice and council’s local law were intended to complement each other.
“Council ensures that the Code of Practice is complied with. This is done by cross-referencing between the two governing documents and applying common sense in order to resolve any potential cases of public nuisance.”
Mr Sodomaco said Council was seeking legal advice on the issue.
A DSE spokesperson said council by-laws regulated hive numbers on properties.