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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs. d1 {( L; A; m' i& K
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?) @+ f! H2 [ t
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.4 U5 P* K$ q$ ]- s
A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
$ ^7 _2 _0 E5 s. d" ]. ]( v) Zpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
. e( O/ ?( p3 ^' l Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.# k$ G: F! n# b) c Q* d/ [ H
Region-wide dog access rules that include:: ~% E3 ]8 s( O6 n1 C2 G" M- U, m7 A
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating$ ^# O8 C7 k! z: T' f0 A2 k
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
- C6 X9 v5 Q* X& Euse.
2 [0 {9 T0 ~1 Z& lo Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
/ g1 f% c z4 y! yexemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,4 l+ ?: ^; d, H0 m+ a
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,: b- ? ^ G1 H. E u
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.: C; g2 g7 o* t! i- e
Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to# @, e9 k0 ]3 q- O6 n# q; A+ ]; ?( g
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
. g; R* m5 d4 icontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
# S0 E7 g7 y' N0 [$ e& r" ^control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
) C0 N6 ~9 |% U3 O* oduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
, u) s# E+ V4 _Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
# l6 ^7 N* e& A: @. G1 w) z Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
0 K5 ]$ ~; D% rrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
/ n, X% ]0 |$ ]/ xpublic places and shared driveways.! {7 O( f8 y# m* R4 h6 T
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
. W0 O% O5 T' ?" S/ p! d% u! Qdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
" X( P, z' ~$ v1 Idangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.
, p ]3 \ w( S8 M6 {' GWhat about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
d2 g3 g$ k: q- ftime and season dog access rules?
+ w' a) z8 a1 Q! BA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access" h2 l) j4 g/ K8 `: S/ ]& J
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation \% U# R1 ?3 V) `2 n* M
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting
+ T" g7 p, n2 |+ e+ D5 jchanges to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the
/ s K4 Z; d& u" E0 u+ rnew decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
( z; I0 s7 J) R3 Z* lOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to
, p; f2 W; }; N v5 ?; jbe used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to* k, w4 _0 I( j; A
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
# e/ I V/ Q- ~4 l) O: K' p" W# F+ land to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier/ [2 ~- w( i8 b$ a' ]
Island).4 C1 M: ~* [+ d' ?
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
- W" ^% w8 r/ U- ~local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
. l% g1 q" I# E* omost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
! Y t0 j( d: l i! j2 dtimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under+ \3 A2 H5 R7 N$ @8 \. E" ~; X
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to; f% X- L! h3 v8 a: u1 r
manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made
) o6 S7 H4 d4 N1 i6 [the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will1 l+ t! t1 M# S! Q+ {
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
* V* v) {8 F. K3 [Weekend to 1 March.* b' C; |3 {$ [; h+ z2 ^" U' d* U
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in7 }7 m; x5 l5 W$ p( b9 b/ M' e
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be9 k$ B9 s1 U( ~
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |