Summary of decisions on Policy and Bylaw on Dogs5 {# x3 J' C$ D1 l2 k
What are the main changes that happen on 1 July 2013?
. e m+ F, B# O$ {1 N( P- y A single policy and bylaw on dogs to keep dogs as a positive part of Auckland life.
7 t" y& G) _7 S; [& Y3 Y! Y8 @ A focus on responsible dog ownership, dog welfare, community education, dog safe access to# }( [. Q2 w* i) L5 D
public places, registration, and dog safe communities.+ w! z7 E9 a+ l1 {9 I1 N' w1 \* q
Ability for local boards to decide dog access rules on local parks and local beaches.
( i, `, e" {& o4 l9 F: D% V1 l+ H Region-wide dog access rules that include:
- Y- R8 z7 u1 A! Vo Allowing dogs under control on a leash on footpaths, town centres, car parks, boating
1 k0 B7 v: d. x) Zareas, shared driveways, and in the vicinity of playgrounds and sports surfaces when in2 \$ |8 Z- `! Q- P
use.
! c$ V: l) q2 i# To Prohibiting dogs on playgrounds and sports (playing) surfaces, although the current; x/ J* P: ~- e! o h
exemptions that allow dogs on grass sports fields will continue to apply on Glover Park,
: Y5 A( V6 ]: y/ O% q- J% WMadills Farm, Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park, Onetangi Sports Park,- A* w- X, l- V& |5 a
and on sports fields in the former Franklin district.
$ a- L/ o8 t$ ^! B' { Dog access rules on regional parks and associated beach and foreshore areas aligned to7 R" n4 c& v/ I L& y
implement the Regional Parks Management Plan 2010. This includes allowing dogs under
' U( j9 ?& F5 d1 wcontrol off-leash in the open areas of Kakamatua Inlet (including beach), allowing dogs under
3 L f2 ]" t. ^/ z% Q8 [* n! ?control on a leash on Long Bay Beach south of Vaughan’s Stream from 10.00am to 6.30pm
- W8 W' O. Z" B- _during daylight saving, and prohibiting dogs from tracks within the Cascades Kauri Ark-in-the-
" V9 P" p7 ]/ h" i) |Park area of the Waitakere Ranges.2 D% X* `% a: e0 j
Region-wide rules requiring immediate picking up and appropriate disposal of dog faeces,
0 t& B" [$ f& h i4 T. l) qrequirement of a license to keep multiple dogs on premises, and to prohibit dogs in heat from0 C8 a' U9 G) o/ S0 r+ ^
public places and shared driveways.1 }! s- N D3 W a: A9 Y1 ^
Compliance and enforcement activity that focuses on dog registration, seizure and holding of- }! s( Q# s% U) Z: I$ S
dogs that are a threat to public safety, classification of dangerous and menacing dogs, and desexing, L! [: }' A) R+ O
dangerous, menacing and uncontrolled dogs.+ f% d8 S# c9 b: Q: ^
What about requests for changes to dog access rules on specific parks and beaches, and
! m8 Q! y" g* e& H$ w4 B# `time and season dog access rules?
1 p" ^8 |0 C- W: ^* c" P8 K( T: BA new approach to deciding dog access to parks and beaches will also start in 2013. Dog access9 ~( d- n" o4 _" d2 |5 j5 u2 T
decisions will be made by local boards for local parks and beaches, and by the Parks, Recreation
. G2 J; L7 @: Hand Heritage Forum for parks and beaches of regional significance. Submissions requesting) g- R9 Z5 q" b2 h2 s1 F
changes to dog access rules will be referred to local boards and the forum to consider using the }* m! P6 G Z6 o! ?
new decision-making principles, criteria and guidance.+ Z3 I1 J5 Q: I, B0 D5 v7 D
One of the new criteria – raised by the majority of submissions - are standard times and seasons to8 q. j) `: N2 Z2 k! ?6 [, N; p% i
be used wherever a time and season dog access rule is used on a beach. The decision was to5 f9 J/ Y& a' G& {/ U
adopt a standard summer beach time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour Weekend to 1 March,, O5 e, Z2 f7 k/ p5 T$ ^3 l
and to exempt its application on Hauraki Gulf islands (including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier0 h2 l1 [$ F; U
Island)., {! D) S9 \2 |3 s! T$ b R
However, the new standard summer time and season will not be in effect until the forum and
$ |8 a! \. \1 [local boards have reviewed all beach dog access rules in each area. The review will identify the
$ m& b: P! j5 rmost appropriate mix of dog access rules for our beaches. This might mean that the new summer+ B- J @" V) }# i* q, k
times and season will apply to some beaches, while for other beaches dogs may be allowed under
; j% A# ]& U6 Z" Y. O2 Y5 Ccontrol off a leash at all times. The need to carry out this review and work out the best way to
+ X, Y5 c4 g- u" {, c3 `manage the safe interaction between people and dogs means that until those decisions are made& t6 Z1 y, @* {0 S
the current dog access rules (which use a mixture of times and dates across Auckland) will) l3 S3 f0 g" p0 u! s. n8 k2 x
continue to apply, and not the standard summer time and season of 10am and 5pm, Labour
6 O- H% T: l5 [) i; ZWeekend to 1 March.. t; s1 i2 m- d) M {# O
Consideration of possible changes to dog access rules on beaches and specific parks will start in
& B- T7 i# @" U. C2 N" E2013. Any proposed changes will be publicly notified for submissions, and hearings will be) H3 U' l$ n1 `( A1 y3 }5 `- S
conducted by the relevant delegated authority before a final decision is made. |