Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs& J. Y% I' i. A( ?
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?- E! P% [ a8 a9 W+ [; E& R
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
5 L0 m; i3 ?' p! c0 h+ r* U( P A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to9 t) b) R, b, b/ t
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.' d5 Z( B8 u3 E) \% }, p9 \3 r
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
- v; b: z4 b4 P. X/ e, z U% [% e* w Region-wide dog access rules that include:
3 X$ b/ N. B9 l$ G8 }$ G0 x& L' to Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
* P* B8 B* \( kareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in9 ?, U3 b" Y0 T# E; ~
use.
0 X& {$ j$ U7 H# Lo Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current. _8 [+ n, V @5 o( q
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
1 f% n( g- P7 jMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,& X. w- c& S, P2 \0 v
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.2 q1 j* G6 g$ _$ [; G3 A
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
) o1 j$ d/ u& Z b+ ?! i3 }: ?implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under: V9 d* a+ Y" q" G+ r# D1 x0 V
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under6 N! l+ G6 Z: G
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
2 i7 e% T r, G" c! u( X0 tduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
& g& Z& p; H$ B% @Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.4 J# b" w. I2 T# O. D4 D3 |
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
+ w: w( c/ l4 F2 w) [requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from/ k) T% B, o5 o& W+ b
public places and shared driveways.
3 G. X; j! Z4 O) t0 m! ?4 p Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
" p. l# C+ c( ~* f/ hdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing5 @' \- R9 w/ z% T# k* T# o
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
9 B+ V# a) @9 E0 @) I$ o3 u) mWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and+ q1 Y* k6 N8 y7 e- P; ~& O
time and season dog access rules?
$ d& I7 w, F7 h4 r ~ B6 X0 GA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access. F3 l# B9 {' |/ U
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation. W0 ?9 r, `; R8 t" @
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
( x7 W& b5 r, q7 l9 ~changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the) d. n$ K1 _ A- `
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.. Q# {0 T2 s, T1 \ I% j8 N% s
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to; H0 o7 _6 Q6 d/ [, ]% s
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to, x9 w* Z! d7 y0 ~2 \
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
1 G" e" s6 K6 \' A- Q# Fand to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier1 X7 K+ `3 Y8 a3 G$ F
Island).
: W3 B+ H$ N" L& iHowever, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
0 X: P2 `# }" V! a' P+ z0 W" Llocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the* B' z" B) a, {' y
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
/ V3 J9 F) J8 Jtimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under) W& v+ c7 |" L- N
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to1 s% n0 |8 y! t& Z" F
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made% _, _6 T$ W1 E5 W' }8 z0 s
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will
+ T4 C6 h& {$ Rcontinue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
& V% ]% R) [7 r* o8 P6 S% U- O5 ~1 RWeekend to 1 March.* l5 R* Z/ Q" J- ~3 h
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
! m1 A4 I& t \9 h4 Q+ g8 v* ]2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
8 p$ U K" }5 q7 T; [conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |