Public feedback is wanted on potential changes to the Waitaki district’s dog laws.

Now is the chance for Waitakians to have their say on the district’s draft Dog Bylaw and Dog Control Policy which includes allowing dogs in Ōamaru’s town centre and at council-owned sportsgrounds.

The Waitaki District Council’s “Let’s Talk Dogs” internet page ran a survey about the existing bylaw and policy, receiving almost 200 responses, between December and February. 

The information was used by the council to update and make potential changes to the rules, and now people can offer their thoughts on those changes, and indicate if they wish to make a verbal submission to councillors about them, a council statement said.

Some key changes include:

• Under the current bylaw, dogs are prohibited from Ōamaru’s commercial areas, including Thames Street, Harbour Street and the North End Shops. These areas will potentially change from prohibited, to on-lead, with new leashing and tethering requirements.

• Dogs are currently prohibited from all council sportsgrounds. It is being proposed that dogs on-lead and under continuous control may enter any part of a sportsground where pitches are not physically marked on the ground, and when those marked pitches are not being used for sports activities - whether organised or informal.

• Dogs are currently prohibited within 10m of children’s play equipment. It is being proposed there be an exemption for on-lead dogs, only when passing the playground on a formed track or path.

• Some coastal areas in Kakanui and the beach reserve along Beach Road are being proposed as off-lead exercise areas

Full details of all the proposed changes in the draft Dog Control Policy and bylaw can be found online, and feedback is wanted before August 12.