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Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs% T0 E9 z- I4 n6 s8 I/ }
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?1 e3 e7 R2 S! R9 ?6 U, n8 z1 l0 ^
A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
2 z H7 N% P9 B. H: T A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to
; c& \; P# a0 {' Spublic places, registration, and dog safe communities.
7 T3 \- V% `) s! ^" ^ Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.5 u; K' n+ G' ^5 `% v
Region-wide dog access rules that include:: F6 N: a6 l, e5 {. Q
o Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating7 R( d5 _2 {# N! d9 |
areas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in
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o Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current
+ y+ L* g- h- ]- nexemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,( w5 Q; J" l% b9 L! H& C
Madills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,4 c' U2 N( P u# g
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
7 @) @5 J, e: \& l; R- { Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to
: B* d0 z% l Limplement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under+ X+ |5 ?- Y8 P" Z: ?& @
control off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
( h# e+ r+ A' o% b0 h4 z/ Qcontrol on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
) W, U# _" h+ o& b D' V0 E4 Cduring daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-3 I5 f& d$ l- S& \
Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.
: X( R9 t# ] \( ?. z8 Q Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
8 ~9 K% X9 w! D: v1 }0 frequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from
* H5 Q" \( n6 u0 }public places and shared driveways.- N* e8 |- T* W& g" f6 e+ l
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of8 ~1 B6 \' D) T. B4 l* H E
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing
1 i4 v) c# @; }dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.6 u9 k; k. c8 c
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and- k. l8 M7 ]: o* y# C
time and season dog access rules?
) d; H4 G/ X1 BA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access
8 Q3 e% S; C& c+ p, K S6 Sdecisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation* k% p, u; L* B9 x1 N, L
and Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting0 n5 v1 ?, U2 V7 C" J$ {8 i
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the8 m4 `. x7 L D8 P, | C4 O
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.- V& l6 \, W6 k# x9 l! k
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to2 D. [* I1 s# S. S/ Z; V { f+ h7 ?% ?
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to( h0 C4 u1 Q$ P! g4 h
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,
! [/ k' m3 W; \+ g* T; j( Band to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier9 _/ A' F4 b2 V" Y7 x8 E
Island).! C9 p6 P5 |& ?2 V5 F
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
a* F5 n4 M" @+ P8 O% Q' Vlocal boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
8 n2 X2 Q$ }) Z9 m: `7 i# |most appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer9 O" y1 }! s8 `) m) D! _
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
* W8 N6 _" X& O/ Dcontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
, C) Y: n4 }' h+ w: G0 |; cmanage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made2 ^/ Q' _8 N/ i0 V
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will- n0 [$ x D2 e7 s3 J
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour& m% d* p: e8 G
Weekend to 1 March.7 d! [8 t+ I" z9 y# O
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in$ S- I' K1 f( o8 P7 f
2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be
( W: A ~+ w! w& n- Nconducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |