Dog Management Policy draft review

Contributions to this consultation are now closed for evaluation and review.

Second stage of consultation results

The second stage of consultation closed on 28 July 2021. Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say.

In total we had:
  • 990 digital survey responses via Your Say
  • 2 handwritten survey submissions
  • 41 emails and letters from the public
  • 7 letters from organisations
  • 1 petition
  • 2 in-person meetings
Officers are now compiling all the feedback which will be presented to Aldermen at a workshop on 6 September 2021.


First stage of consultation results

Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say on the first stage of this record-breaking consultation.

In total we had:

  • 2944 digital survey responses via Your Say
  • 82 digital story submissions via Your Say
  • 24 handwritten survey submissions
  • 52 emails
  • 7 letters from the public
  • 5 letters from organisations
  • 2 petitions

The results from stage one of the consultation are available to download from the document library.

The fee structure was formally adopted at the council meeting on 31 May 2021 and is no longer part of the draft review.



Project Overview

We are undertaking the second stage of community consultation on the draft Dog Management Policy, and are seeking community feedback on the revised draft.

The first stage of consultation was to determine the community's feedback on a variety of proposed changes to inform the draft policy.

This second stage of consultation is the statutory component of the Dog Management Policy review process that puts a specific policy to the community for feedback.

This draft policy has been refined through consideration of the feedback received in the first stage of consultation, along with other considerations including health, safety and environmental factors.

Second round feedback will then be evaluated and a final version of the policy will be produced for formal consideration by council.


Background

The Dog Control Act of 2000 requires councils to develop and implement a policy relating to dog management within their municipal area and this policy must be formally reviewed every 5 years.

There have been two reviews of this policy since that time. These reviews were adopted by council on 25 February 2008 and 16 November 2015 respectively.

This year's draft was created after discussions with Parks and Wildlife, the Environmental Management branch of council, the Tracks and Trails committee and other relevant stakeholders.

Following a workshop with Aldermen in October 2020, an initial four-week period of consultation was conducted.

Running from 15 March until 12 April with a two-week extension of two weeks from 21 April to 4 May, it resulted in 3,216 responses, two petitions to council and other forms of feedback.

The feedback received during the first round of consultation was then presented to another workshop with Alderman, resulting in the revised draft now being considered during this second consultation period.

More information on dog ownership in Clarence and the Dog Management Policy can be accessed at https://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/living/animals/dogs/

UPDATE (16 July 2021):

We have today made the decision to remove question 8 currently being asked in our Your Say survey for the latest round of consultation on the Dog Management Policy.

The question has been mistakenly setup on a false premise that there are current reserve activity plans endorsed by council that recommend dogs be on-lead in the relevant reserve. This is incorrect and as a result we will be removing this question and we won’t rely on feedback collected so far on this question to shape the draft policy.

We apologise for the mistake and look forward to continuing to receive your feedback on this important policy in the remaining two weeks of consultation.

Further information on this decision can be read here.


Have Your Say

Have your say by

  • Completing the survey on the revised draft

This survey will close on Wednesday 28 July 2021.

The results of this consultation will inform the refinement of the draft master plan.


Second stage of consultation results

The second stage of consultation closed on 28 July 2021. Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say.

In total we had:
  • 990 digital survey responses via Your Say
  • 2 handwritten survey submissions
  • 41 emails and letters from the public
  • 7 letters from organisations
  • 1 petition
  • 2 in-person meetings
Officers are now compiling all the feedback which will be presented to Aldermen at a workshop on 6 September 2021.


First stage of consultation results

Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say on the first stage of this record-breaking consultation.

In total we had:

  • 2944 digital survey responses via Your Say
  • 82 digital story submissions via Your Say
  • 24 handwritten survey submissions
  • 52 emails
  • 7 letters from the public
  • 5 letters from organisations
  • 2 petitions

The results from stage one of the consultation are available to download from the document library.

The fee structure was formally adopted at the council meeting on 31 May 2021 and is no longer part of the draft review.



Project Overview

We are undertaking the second stage of community consultation on the draft Dog Management Policy, and are seeking community feedback on the revised draft.

The first stage of consultation was to determine the community's feedback on a variety of proposed changes to inform the draft policy.

This second stage of consultation is the statutory component of the Dog Management Policy review process that puts a specific policy to the community for feedback.

This draft policy has been refined through consideration of the feedback received in the first stage of consultation, along with other considerations including health, safety and environmental factors.

Second round feedback will then be evaluated and a final version of the policy will be produced for formal consideration by council.


Background

The Dog Control Act of 2000 requires councils to develop and implement a policy relating to dog management within their municipal area and this policy must be formally reviewed every 5 years.

There have been two reviews of this policy since that time. These reviews were adopted by council on 25 February 2008 and 16 November 2015 respectively.

This year's draft was created after discussions with Parks and Wildlife, the Environmental Management branch of council, the Tracks and Trails committee and other relevant stakeholders.

Following a workshop with Aldermen in October 2020, an initial four-week period of consultation was conducted.

Running from 15 March until 12 April with a two-week extension of two weeks from 21 April to 4 May, it resulted in 3,216 responses, two petitions to council and other forms of feedback.

The feedback received during the first round of consultation was then presented to another workshop with Alderman, resulting in the revised draft now being considered during this second consultation period.

More information on dog ownership in Clarence and the Dog Management Policy can be accessed at https://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/living/animals/dogs/

UPDATE (16 July 2021):

We have today made the decision to remove question 8 currently being asked in our Your Say survey for the latest round of consultation on the Dog Management Policy.

The question has been mistakenly setup on a false premise that there are current reserve activity plans endorsed by council that recommend dogs be on-lead in the relevant reserve. This is incorrect and as a result we will be removing this question and we won’t rely on feedback collected so far on this question to shape the draft policy.

We apologise for the mistake and look forward to continuing to receive your feedback on this important policy in the remaining two weeks of consultation.

Further information on this decision can be read here.


Have Your Say

Have your say by

  • Completing the survey on the revised draft

This survey will close on Wednesday 28 July 2021.

The results of this consultation will inform the refinement of the draft master plan.


Tell us what is important to you about dogs in Clarence

We want to hear from you about what matters to you regarding dogs in Clarence. Do you have a favourite walk you take with your dog? Perhaps you have a boisterous dog that loves the beaches in summer, or maybe you have a shy dog that is looking for a quiet place to walk on the lead? Or perhaps you don't own a dog but have had an encounter with one and have a story to share about how it affected you. By sharing your stories you will not only help council understand what matters to you but also those in the community who may think differently.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

  • Roches Beach DOG FREE ZONE IS UNACCEPTABLE

    by Happydogs, about 3 years ago

    Coming from Ballarat Victoria to live in Tasmania is a blessing. As a NZ born child who was brought up by the sea I have spent the majority of my life away from it. It use to take us 2.75 hours to travel to the beach where we had a holiday cabin within 15 mins of a dog beach with our dogs.
    We purchased our house in Lauderdale entirely so we could just walk across the road, up past a few houses and down the track to the beach. No more having to get in the car and drive kilometres... Continue reading

  • Dogs provide emotional comfort.

    by Helga, about 3 years ago
    My brothers beloved family dog passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. It was very upsetting and emotional. I borrowed a friends dog and took him for a walk to Anzac Park, where I sat quietly on the bench near the drinking fountain, watching the dogs and the owners socialise, while my friends little dog trotted around. Then, one by one, the dogs in the park came over to me and laid their head on my knee for a pat. It was amazing. I cried and cried and each of the dogs just spent that little bit of time with me to... Continue reading

  • Bringing up Guide Dog pups on the Eastern Shore.

    by Varcha Sidwell , about 3 years ago
    As a volunteer with Guide Dogs Tasmania it’s wonderful to share our home and our environment with pups destined to change lives. A vital part of their journey is learning how to walk on lead, having time for off lead play and well mannered socialising with other dogs. Being a resident of Lindisfarne I’ve always brought guide dog pups to Anzac Park, introducing them to off lead play with well behaved dogs, meeting elderly people with walkers, children with prams, bicycles, a nearby cricket match or footy going on and in all a very enriched environment including trees, memorials and... Continue reading

  • Being able to walk off-lead in bushland reserves makes Clarence special

    by Jan, about 3 years ago
    I have walked my dogs off-lead in bushland reserves or on the beaches virtually every day for 35 years. In that time I have had to accept the imposition of gradual restrictions, recognising that they are probably inevitable with increasing population. But this plan has taken one giant leap towards unreasonable and unjustifiable control. In winter the only people on the beaches are those hardy souls walking their dogs. Even the bike riders seem to disappear from the tracks. I walk the tangara trails and rarely see horse riders. That’s not to say bike and horse riders should not be... Continue reading

  • Dogs and their humans deserve options for exercise

    by JessF, about 3 years ago
    I'm very disappointed in the proposed changes to current off-leash areas. The dogs of Clarence deserve a variety of options for exercise, including both on and off lead areas, and dedicated fenced dog parks. I frequently take my Jack Russell puppy to the parks where he can be off lead and this has definitely improved his socialisation and manners, and my own health and well-being. ANZAC Park in particular has a long history of dogs being off lead, and many of their owners are elderly, disabled or mobility impaired. Because the area is not entirely fenced, it's much more likely... Continue reading

  • It's not just Anzac Park, it's all the dog parks in Clarence under threat!

    by Malcom, about 3 years ago

    Whilst I understand the focus is very much on Anzac Park for a lot of people, I feel it shouldn't be overlooked that more than a dozen parks have been marked for restriction regarding dogs. I go to Pilchers Hill and Waverley Flora Park very often and a number of the other parks once or twice a month. The variety of walking experience is very important to our health. Having a handful of close-gated-parks is a very poor substitute for what we have now. Most dog owners do not enjoy gated dog parks, nor do the dogs. Dogs need trees... Continue reading

  • The social heart of Lindisfarne

    by James Shugg, about 3 years ago

    Since returning to Tasmania after 30 years working overseas, I have regularly walked my Mum’s dog Ziggy down to Anzac Park to let him chase the big dogs around, the only vigorous exercise he gets. In that time I have witnessed countless uplifting social interactions amongst the regulars and other visitors to the Park.

    Highlights include:

    the arrival of baby Flo, now a year old, who sits gurgling in the grass surrounded by adoring and protective neighbourhood dogs while her dad plays fetch with their dog Meg;

    the respect and affection shown to Warwick, one of the patriarchs of the... Continue reading

  • If I die and come back as a dog...I’d live at Lauderdale

    by By a non dog owning human ... , about 3 years ago

    To be clear , I don’t currently own a dog ....haven’t for the last 12 years since our wonderful old bloke “Lico “ passed away before we moved here from Queensland ...but I am a dog person , always have been .

    I love watching them ,love seeing them , love hearing them ...chase the waves , the birds ,the balls , on this beautiful beach here at Lauderdale where we are blessed to live.

    And that’s why I’m disappointed to read that Council is considering not allowing dogs down our end of the beach here at Laudie....at all!!

    We... Continue reading

  • Relaxing

    by Cocker, about 3 years ago
    Having used Anzac Park for near 15 years to exercise and relax with my dog whilst he is running around with other dogs. This place means so much to myself and like minded people ,we have created great friendships whilst our dogs have social interaction with other dogs. Myself I am on a walking stick and find it very dangerous to use a lead for fear of being pulled over or tangled up.This park is so peaceful with the birds and serene outlook, it’s just what I need to get out and enjoy as hubby had dementia. By making this... Continue reading

  • Lou

    by Lou, about 3 years ago
    I have lived in Lauderdale for over 20 years and walk my dog ( as i did my previous dog) twice a day, every day, regardless of the weather . I can guarantee that 99 % of beach users are dog owners. In summer when the restrictions are in place from10-6, the beach is empty a lot of the time.

    There are many elderly people in our neighbourhood that use the beach for their daily exercise with their dogs and for social interaction. If you remove access for them from the canal to Mays point, they will lose this important... Continue reading