Council staff doggy-deep in feedback

Waipā District Council is sorting through 275 formal submissions about dogs and the responsibilities of dog ownership.

The submissions are on the back of significant community feedback received last year which helped staff prepare a new dog policy and bylaw.

Formal consultation on potential new rules has now closed with group manager - district growth and regulatory services Wayne Allan saying it was “fantastic”. While formal analysis of the submissions was ongoing, there was strong interest in three issues:

• Whether dogs should be on or off-leash allowed at Lake Te Koo Utu and Cambridge Park Oval
• Off-leash hours at some dog exercise areas
• Whether or not dogs should be allowed at Kakepuku maunga

Council is aiming to hold public hearings on the issue in coming months. At those hearings, submitters who have requested to be heard will be able to address elected councillors directly before final decisions on the dog policy and bylaw are made.