Submissions closing soon for proposed changes to dog policy
Submissions closing soon for proposed changes to dog
policy and bylaw
Our dog bylaw is under review and if you want to make a submission you'll need to do it by 4pm Monday 7 December.
We've got thousands of dogs in our district and our dog policy and bylaw helps manage potential problems and address problems when they do occur. Our aim is to provide reasonable rules for dog owners while promoting a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
We have a bylaw and policy so we can balance the protection of wildlife, including the endangered New Zealand Dotterel and migratory birds alongside the popularity of district beaches for people during summer as well as providing appropriate dog exercise areas and walking times throughout the district. We also have to take into consideration the needs of locals and visiting dog owners in relation to rules that are easy to understand, such as generally consistent date and time restrictions and rules for main streets and town centres across the district.
Some of the changes being proposed in bylaw include:
The dog exercise area at Brophys Beach
Whitianga is to be restricted during the summer months, so
the only all year dog exercise area is at Robinson Road
reserve & mudflats.
Dogs will be prohibited on Opito an
Otama beaches from Labour Weekend to 1 March with the
exception of "off lead" exercise areas at the western
end.
Dogs will no longer be prohibited from parts of
Pollen St Thames.
At Whangamata dogs will be prohibited
at certain dates and times from Beach Access 18 through to
the Marina.
Dogs will be banned on Tapu Beach spit area
at certain dates and times to protect dotterel.
These are
just proposals and it depends on feedback and input from the
public as to what will actually be adopted as the new
rules.
Once we get in all the submissions they will be processed and will go to Council for hearings and deliberations early in the New Year.
This summer nothing is changing, so dog walking areas and restrictions will stay the same. The new bylaw will be in force for next summer. In the meantime you can go to www.tcdc.govt.nz/dogs to find out about what is in place for now.
ends