I would like to raise awareness around the issue of Central Coast Council not contacting all registered dog owners on decisions that will impact them greatly.
Council is proposing to reduce dog owners’ ability to exercise and socialise their dogs.
Every morning we see happy groups and individuals with their pooches getting exercise and socialising.
This not only enhances our community morale but also reduces dog aggression and nuisance barking as well as dog owners surrendering their dogs to already overcrowded pounds that are faced with mass euthanasia of much-loved family pets.
Council has the owner details of all dogs that are registered on the Central Coast and it is sneaky and undemocratic not to contact dog owners about these important decisions, just as they would do with development applications to surrounding neighbours.
We need both dog owners to become aware of this issue as well as hold Council responsible for their lack of consultation with the public that will be impacted the most.
Nathalie Gounder-Chresta,
Terrigal
EDITOR’S NOTE: Community feedback is being invited until August 26 on Council’s Draft Dogs in Open Space Action Plan, a 10-year Action Plan for future planning, management and prioritisation of infrastructure, including where dogs can play on or off leash, and where they are prohibited. See full story, Coast News, July 22.
If only we had democratically elected officials to keep accountable for these sorts of decisions..
I would like to make the following statement:
The “DOGS IN OPEN SPACE ACTION PLAN 2022 – 2032”, document, which can be accessed here: https://www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/sites/default/files/2022-06/dogs_in_open_space_action_plan_2022_-_2032_pe.pdf (link checked on 7th of August, 2022)
only shows how hypocritic the Central Coast Council has become.
In chapter 5) Discussion of Key Issues and Opportunities, paragraph 5.6) Dog Registrations, mentions that dog registrations benefit […] optimising the number of dog owners Council can easily communicate with (for projects,
events, matters of concern, changes to policy and legislation, opportunities to engage) […]
I am a dog owner, and I have three private ways to communicate with the CCC and one on social media. This is the first time I have heard about this motion. Where do I need to subscribe to know first-hand about these issues?
Thanks.
Suggest that special fenced areas for dogs off leash e.g. fence the end of the oval at Woy Woy–end nearest Brick Wharf Road where dogs could run freely with no damage to sports pitches
.Margaret Coutts