Phone 4342 2070 Fax 4342 2071

2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Dog discussion

 

There has been a considerable amount of community discussion regarding dogs on beaches recently.

Gosford City Council's Dog Exercise Areas Policy Advisory Committee has completed the majority of its policy formation process.

Council's Natural Areas Unit is currently collating the Committee's information and will publicly exhibit the document shortly.

The Advisory Committee acknowledges the right of people to exercise their dogs on sections of beaches.

It also acknowledges the right of people to have access to beach areas free of dogs.

The draft policy seeks to achieve a balance for a range of user groups, for people and dogs.

Most importantly, the policy formation process hasn't focused entirely an designation of areas but also on signage, enforcement, education, encouragement, funding, cooperation, monitoring and maintenance.

The Advisory Committee next meets in late January 2002, while the information generated over the previous four months is collated.

The draft policy will then undergo a final review before being presented to Council for public exhibition and feedback.

Cr Robert Bell, Gosford City Mayor