|
Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs
/ c! m, f$ q, H V7 Z) V/ v0 W What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
2 g" ]. K0 J+ Z# h3 Y A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
5 J3 h( e+ r$ I4 K A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
5 Z+ b7 I3 `8 g9 |8 c/ fpublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
: u ~0 }0 w; t: y( q8 I Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
. w2 ^! N! G' u/ g Region-wide dog access rules that include:
, Y5 q/ o; K4 x: T8 C2 h$ P2 Bo Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating- R6 F3 N9 q" ]1 L) J# n# ]! Z
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in" b& d0 Y0 V2 A/ v% w
use.4 U9 {" v6 X1 S5 n/ R& A8 ~! Q
o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current5 K( W9 p2 `+ @8 a6 R$ k. T* v
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,: B! o9 T4 C9 \6 @/ G: f" T+ W
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,
2 n$ y6 Z6 `: w& p* y' v: p0 u- Land on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
% D* z# h* P" ]% [$ |& X+ T& l Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to6 n- H+ z6 C1 H, B3 E0 J2 q
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
' X/ ^) K3 y8 d4 A5 Hcontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under2 _8 b: B% p+ v; j/ M8 y2 t
control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm* Y! z5 Q: ]; S. M4 {9 d
during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-* c* _2 c0 M% {/ X. X
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
, l4 P2 T+ n6 w, v6 U Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,8 d1 `0 W9 P) u& W/ V. V) ]
requirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
. n, Q4 a6 a) C0 ~public places and shared driveways.
9 N( C4 b- _" o E/ k Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of
# J$ K" k1 _& U1 p$ hdogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing, b% A s4 r# W. w- Y
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs. t, k8 `$ G- S S7 |% @
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
' g# f$ p' p* u' F3 Wtime and season dog access rules?
# O; U a5 k8 ?; V0 N6 }A new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
1 c) z! I3 T0 G6 L2 k, Z1 v( q( ldecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
% q9 ]) | z" ~. {# }and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting V; r8 y0 L4 W5 }# m+ ~
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the) \- r1 U& S0 t# q) T+ |: w
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.
0 f* @- a9 E# w W/ H: R, t9 zOne of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to; n' }$ W, t5 t! F
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to' k Z) S$ n; z7 Q5 r. o
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March, M; u* F. r" [- ~, T6 V( R: g6 B
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier
1 |7 v- j' C. T7 w9 yIsland).3 e4 P( F* _( j7 {' g6 X
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and' x4 C. e' |+ o: q
local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the+ w3 Z" M8 G0 u4 G7 `6 n6 J, `
most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer
0 Y5 _: F9 M6 R" u( v- Ctimes and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under- t2 Y$ L' c* z
control off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
* V+ U( u- p3 k. ]manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made: D' }* k7 D0 p6 y/ C9 Y
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will# V5 E( S) a% {2 W4 B! j' W
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
- w; s! Z9 p" E# h- }Weekend to 1 March.7 c7 I: j* K5 b M' C
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
% P' ~, Z+ p9 {. Q k2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be( K+ l0 m, j/ T" e, L# B" G
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |