Control of Dogs Bylaw 2021 – Further Review

Overview

We are undertaking a further review of the Control of Dogs Bylaw 2021. This process involves public consultation to make sure the bylaw continues to be useful and reflects what the community needs.

Bylaws are rules made by Council under the Local Government Act 2002 (the “Act”). They are created for the purpose of:

• Protecting the public from nuisance;
• Protecting, promoting, and maintaining public health and safety; and
• Minimising the potential for offensive behaviour in public places.

Bylaws are also made to regulate activities such as the keeping of animals and appropriate use of public spaces.

What are we consulting on?

The decision whether to make Besley Park an off-lead dog exercise area or not.

Background

The 2013 version of the bylaw included Besley Park as an off lead / dog exercise area. Council undertook an online pre-consultation survey with the community over September and October 2020 to help assess how well the bylaw was functioning and identify what issues could be addressed as part of the review. One of the suggestions from that survey was a recommendation for us to remove Besley Park from the list of dog exercise areas.

Feedback received from members of the community indicated that the area was a popular area with families and young children and was not an ideal exercise area for dogs running off lead.

After considering the merits of this suggestion, Council included the removal of Besley park as a dog exercise area in the list of proposed changes to the bylaw. This bylaw (and 5 others) opened for public engagement using the Special Consultative Procedure from January 15 to February 15 2021.

Previous Engagement

A total of 65 submissions were received on all bylaws. There were 26 responses received on this particular proposal, of which 15 agreed with its removal, and 9 were against. Following the consultation, a public hearing and deliberations meeting was held on March 24, where it was decided that Besley Park should no longer be a dog exercise area. At its meeting on April 27, Council voted to accept the recommendations on the proposed bylaw and directed that it come into effect on 1 July 2021.

Control of Dogs bylaw (PDF, 319KB)

The problem

In May 2021, Council received feedback on behalf of some residents of Acacia Bay who were unaware that a review had been undertaken and had therefore not engaged with the Special Consultative Procedure. In particular, there was concern with the decision to remove Besley Park as an off-lead dog exercise area.

In order to give those members of Acacia Bay particularly affected by the decision a further opportunity to engage on matters of interest to them, Council has decided to undertake further public consultation on this proposal.

Council’s position

Besley Park is a popular area with families and young children and is therefore not ideal as an off-lead dog exercise area. This does not constitute a ban on having dogs in the park, but a requirement dogs be on a lead at all times while in the park.

Council has also designated the stormwater gully area between Acacia Bay Road and Reeves Road as an off-lead exercise area for dogs, so that residents can exercise their dogs locally without having to make a car trip to another part of town.

See our proposal document below for more information.

Statement of Proposal for the Control of Dogs Bylaw 2021 - Further Review (PDF, 347KB)