Central Coast Council is nearing the completion of its revised Draft Dogs in Open Spaces Action Plan, soon to be released for further community review.
The draft plan attracted much criticism when it was first released for community consultation a year ago.
Three separate submissions were launched objecting to elements of the plan, collectively attracting almost 3,000 signatures.
Imogen da Silva of Umina has launched a petition on behalf of the region’s responsible dog owners asking Council to consider not introducing the policy until elected councillors are in place.
She said Council should consider a community-elected responsible dog ownership group to monitor complaints and issues from within the community and pushed for off-leash grass and beach areas being provided for active dogs within 15 minutes of homes.
Her major objection to the draft plan was the suggestion that all beach access should be denied to dogs between 9am and 5pm during summer and dogs, both on and off-leash, should be banned from all ovals at all times.
A second petition opposed the suggestion to move Terrigal Haven Dog Park and a third, launched by residents in the Davistown area, protested to relocate the popular Pippi Point off-leash dog area in Illoura Reserve to a new area further along the waterfront, which they say is totally inappropriate for the purpose.
Council says the new simplified draft plan will respond to extensive community feedback received during the first round of consultation as well as further detailed studies on the key issues of concern, including the concerns surrounding time restricted beach access for dogs and the suitability of off leash areas at Davistown, Terrigal and Hamlyn Terrace.
A consultation report detailing input received during the first round of consultation and the currently proposed approach to respond to that feedback, was distributed recently to all stakeholders who provided feedback.
Council staff will now hold workshops with key local stakeholders who contributed during the consultation period to review the options aiming to address the issues of concern, prior to reporting the revised draft plan to Council, where a resolution for it to be publicly re-exhibited will be sought.
It is important to note that there are currently no changes to the management of Council’s open space network.
To keep up-to-date with the progress of Council’s Dogs in Open Spaces Action Plan, visit: yourvoiceourcoast.com/dogs
Terry Collins