MEDIA ADVISORY

31 March 2003

Review process for dog exercise areas

As there has been some confusion about designated dog exercise areas, Auckland City would like to clarify the timeframe and process for their review.

It needs to be made clear that initially dog exercise areas are approved by local community boards, but are not operational until Auckland City’s compliance monitoring manager approves them.

All current fully approved dog exercise areas are listed on the Auckland City website: www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dogs

Community boards may have approved some other areas not listed, but are holding on to them pending the review by all 10 boards.

The following timeframe outlines the review process:

- a working party is meeting on Thursday, 3 April 2003 to determine the assessment and consultation criteria for dog exercise areas, using the criteria developed by the Western Bays Community Board as a framework. Party will consist of Councillor Bruce Hucker, Councillor Glenda Fryer, Councillor Victoria Carter, the chairperson of the Western Bays Community Board, Catherine Hawley, and council officers.
The assessment criteria of a park or reserve will consider issues such as physical characteristics, safety, current and future use, surrounding development, and conservation values such as flora and fauna

- the agreed assessment and consultation criteria will then be sent to all community boards

- in order to attain city-wide consistency, community boards will be asked to review all dog exercise areas across the city against the model that was used by the Western Bays Community Board and subsequently revised by the working party

- the results of the community board review will then be reported back to the June Works Committee. The boards are also expected to report back on the need for possible changes to the Dog Control Bylaw

- compliance monitoring manager will then move to implement the city-wide community board recommendations.

Note: please check the Auckland City’s website if there are any outstanding questions regarding any particular park or reserve.

Ends

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