Rates spend on dog park

Don’t get me wrong—I love dogs and respect the roles they perform for us, both the working and companion versions. But I don’t love your dog. It’s your dog; I get that, but I don’t need to love it or have any of my rates contribution allocated to it, whether that be for compliance or the latest 21st-century thing, a Dog Park.

I know I am treading dangerous ground here; I know so many dog owners are passionate about their pooch.

And before you ask, yes, I have owned many dogs, up to nine at a time actually, but then they were all working dogs, as I was on a mustering run as a young fella, chasing merinos and half-breds (sheep) in the tops in Central Otago. You need plenty of dog power for that gig, as the faithful dogs worked themselves to a standstill, so they needed to have days off, rest their weary and sometimes cut foot pads, cut from the shale in the tops of the mountains. So, I totally get how we can feel so deeply connected to dogs.

But in this age of financial restraint, I think Council, as unsexy as it sounds, need to stick to footpaths, drains and local roading/reserves networks. Increasing any rate we pay for anything outside of those services for the likes of dog parks, I say ‘get in behind’.

On this, I stand alongside the Ōmokoroa Residents and Ratepayers Association [ORRA], which points out that a dog park in Ōmokoroa will be funded by ratepayers, that’s ratepayers, not dog owners. And that the proposed location for the ratepayer-funded dog park is Precious Family Reserve, a place enjoyed by so many ratepayers, whether they be dog owners or not.

Before you yell Waylego to me, I urge you to make submissions on the matters your ORRA has raised; that’s all. And please don’t sic your poodle on me, just my opinion.