Ōmokoroa Dog Park status

Thanks for the opportunity to share information about the Ōmokoroa dog exercise area consultation. We received a fantastic response to this public engagement. Over 850 pieces of feedback were received. The more feedback we receive, the better informed we are to make decisions.

We are currently reviewing this feedback, but we would like to keep the public informed on where we are at with the process. The background on this project was outlined in the consultation information, but some people still had more questions, so we’d also like to provide more details for them.

Let’s revisit the background of this project: Up until October 2023, there was just one off-leash fully fenced dog exercise area in our District at TECT Park. This has been a very popular resource over the years, so to find out if people wanted more of these in their District, we went out to the community three times to seek feedback, both in Ōmokoroa and the wider Western Bay of Plenty District. The feedback was very supportive of dog exercise areas, specifically in Ōmokoroa.

In 2016, Dog Control and Policy Bylaw Review consultation showed 89% of submitters were in favour of dog exercise areas. Ōmokoroa was the most popular location across the District, with Katikati coming in as the second.

In the 2021-31 Long Term Plan preengagement in 2020, 68% of submitters were in favour of dog exercise areas. ‘Ōmokoroa – land between Links Avenue and Western Avenue’, was the most preferred location across the district. This was the first time this location was considered as an option. Respondents were not able to make multiple submissions.

491 people said yes to more fenced dog exercise areas in the District. 250 said Links View was their preferred location. 226 said Te Puke, 165 Katikati, 140 Waihi Beach.

Following this supportive feedback from the community, we made a commitment to create four new dog parks in Te Puke, Ōmokoroa, Katikati and Waihī Beach and included budgets in the Long Term Plan 2021-2031.

Tō Wāhi Your Place engagement in 2023 showed 64% of submitters agreed with Links View Drive Reserve as a location for a dog exercise area. During this engagement, the public suggested four alternative locations, the most popular being Precious Family Reserve, which is where the current consultation question has come from. Three other locations Cooney Reserve, Margaret Drive and Ōmokoroa Domain - were investigated and discounted due to ecological values (bird nesting), not being Council land, or dogs being prohibited on the site under

Dog Control Bylaw (due to high public use and/or ecological values).

How will this dog exercise area be paid for?

Council has allocated $30,000 towards the Ōmokoroa and Katikati dog exercise areas through the Long Term Plan 20212031 to kick start their creation. This has come from 80% dog registration fees ($24,000) and 20% general rates ($6,000). We will work with the community, external funders and the Community Boards to source additional funding.

For example, the Te Puke dog exercise area, which opened at Lawrence Oliver Park in 2023, was made possible by funding from the Council, Te Puke Community Board, TECT, and hard mahi from the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Society.

Isn’t there already a dog exercise area at Huharua Harbour Park (Plummers Point), and if not, can we build one?

There are spaces at Huharua Harbour Park (Plummers Point) where dogs can exercise off leash and under control, but there is not a dog exercise area. A dog exercise area is a designated, purposebuilt, fully fenced space. This area was considered for a dog exercise area, but it was discounted because most people would have to drive there. The Park also has archaeological sites of cultural and historical significance.

It’s important to note that building a new dog exercise area doesn’t change the use of other public spaces for dog owners. You will still be able to have your dog off leash if it is under control on Council land, except in areas where this is already specifically restricted or prohibited by the Dog Control Bylaw. Dog exercise areas are additional facilities where people can exercise their dogs in a safe and contained area.

Where are we at now with the process? What’s next?

Currently, we are working through the submissions and collating feedback. Responses will be read through, and common themes will be examined. We will look at how many responses preferred Links View Drive Reserve or Precious Family Reserve, suggested other locations, or did not support a dog exercise area.

The timeline for the process is April – May 2024: review feedback, confirm the outcome of the survey, and plan for possible next steps. June – July 2024: Decisions are expected to be made by the Council. We will be in touch with the community to keep them informed as we go further along this process. In the meantime, if there are any further questions, we welcome these through our freephone line: 0800 WBOPDC (0800 926 732), or email at haveyoursay@westernbay.govt.nz