Chomleychum – It is difficult to assess whether the time taken has been unreasonably long without knowing all of the facts.
How was your first pet approval obtained – was it by a Committee meeting or was it by a General Meeting? Sometimes these matters are dealt with at a Committee meeting and not a General Meeting. The Committee has the authority to act on behalf of the OC in various types of matters. A Committee meeting may not have occurred within the 19 day time frame.To my knowledge there is no ability in the NSW Legislation to permit voting outside of a Committee meeting, as there is in QLD Legislation – but I may be wrong.
How long did your previous pet approval take?
If I was in your position I would send an email to the Secretary of the OC via the Strata Manager outlining your need for a hasty decision and specify a date that you expect a written reply by. Follow this up with a letter. Each request is treated on a case by case basis. Note that I wrote “reply” not “decision”. Include in this letter that you intend to exercise your right to take this issue to Mediation if necessary.
This may be your only option if you cannot wait for 4 months for a decision. You have applied for a pet under the existing By-laws therefore it is my assessment that your matter should be dealt with under the existing By-laws. To refuse a pet based on assumption that a By-law will possibly change does not seem reasonable to me.