We are keen to promote forums on issues affecting dogs and their owners. If you know of an issue please let us know by contacting us and we will publish details for a forum.

Forum - Hutt City Reviews Ban On Dog Owners Using Petone Beach

The decision to ban dog owners from exercising their dogs on Petone Beach included the requirement for a review within six months. Council has completed this review and is now seeking public comments on its proposal to allow dogs back on the banned part of Petone Beach under specified conditions. See details in the Survey section on this page for information on the Council's call for submissions.

Good D.O.G. members will be making formal presentations to Council when it meets to consider the results of its Survey. We would like to incorporate your views and comments on the following points in our submission:

Your observations about sharing access to Petone Beach by dog owners AND non-dog owners
Your views on the safety, accessibility, etc of the areas you now have to use if you wish to exercise your dog.
The level of use of Petone Beach by dog owners and non-dog owners during the periods you have been there.

The views and comments you provide will become an important part of the review and submission process.

Survey - Hutt City Council calls For Submissions On Dog Owners Using Petone Beach

Back in May 2004, Council banned dogs from the most accessible part of Petone Beach. This decision was reviewed in the latter part of 2004, with Council opting to amend the arrangement so that dogs can be exercised on the beach within specified limits.

At the same time Council has updated its Dog Control Policy to take account of new Dog Control legislation and the proposed change to access areas.

The updated Dog Control Policy and the decision to allow access on Petone Beach are now out for public consultation.

Key points from the proposal:

Question One - Council seeks the right to change the Dog Control bylaws without public consultation. We are not convinced this change is in the wider public interest, let alone the interests of dog owners.

Question Two - Amendments to the Policy and Bylaws result from recent legislative changes relating to menacing dogs, and also provide for access to Petone Beach.

Question Three - Changes to the Schedules will be beneficial to dog owners as they cater for the proposed changes to exercise areas.

Question Four - We strongly recommend dog owners support this change as it will bring back former access arrangements for Petone Beach that were in place before 2004.

We invite dog owners to read the Summary and Statement of Proposal on the Hutt City Council website, and make a submission to ensure the proposed change are adopted.

Submissions on the Council's submission form must be lodged at the Council offices before 4.00pm on Friday, 18 February 2005.