Far North District Council to have another go at setting dog control bylaw

Far North District Council is having another go at establishing a dog control bylaw.

The Far North District Council is proposing fresh, formal consultation on its controversial Dog Policy and Dog Control Bylaw.

In 2016, the Dog Policy and Dog Control Bylaw was reviewed, and the council consulted the community.

That version of the proposed bylaw sparked howls of protest - especially in Russell - when dog owners discovered it proposed banning all off-leash exercise on Russell beaches and a one or two-dog per household limit along much of the east coast.

Bay of Islands WatchDogs was set up to fight the proposed bylaw, rallies were held, and a community board meeting drew a record 120 people.

In October 2017, the Strategy Committee decided to further refine the proposed policy and bylaw through workshops with staff, elected members and community representatives.

Mayor John Carter said the workshops with community interest groups have been useful, but the council now needs to widen the process, to ensure everyone in the Far North can have a say.

"One clear message from the workshops was the need to go out for public consultation again. We expect this could occur in the last half of 2018, with the aim of capturing the views of the wider community," Mr Carter said.

Any new consultative process will be fair, transparent and robust, with all members of the community given the opportunity to have their say, he said.

"We may not be able to please everyone but elected members will vote on a final policy and bylaw to represent the best interests of the whole community."

Go to www.fndc.govt.nz/dogs2018 for more information.