Clarence City Council under fire for fresh blunder in consultation on proposed dog management changes
Fresh criticism is being levelled at a council’s consultation process for contentious changes to its dog management plan, forcing council to make a last-minute change. LATEST >>
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THE Clarence City Council will seek to extend the feedback period on a contentious new dog management policy after a blunder that saw some members of the public notified only after consultation had already closed.
The council has submitted a last-minute agenda item for Monday night’s meeting, where alderman will be asked to approve an extension to the first round of consultation on the policy, which had closed on April 12.
It comes after dog owners reported that they had received a newsletter after that date inviting them to submit feedback on the proposed changes.
Mayor Doug Chipman said the newsletter had been delivered after the consultation period closed “due to circumstances outside of our control”.
“This has been very unfortunate and upsetting to those who have missed out on having their say,” he said.
If approved by aldermen, the consultation would be extended until May 4, with a further opportunity for community input in the next stage of the review.
The draft policy has prompted a wave of criticism from dog owners due to the restrictions it would impose, including the potential for a complete ban of pooches on Bellerive Beach.
Jennifer Burman, of Lindisfarne, also said council’s Dog News communication came out two weeks after the consultation period began.
“I’d like to think it’s not in any way deliberate, just disorganised,” she said.
Howrah’s Sabina Rainer-Smith said the consultation should have been better advertised and not been made to coincide with the Easter period.
“I believe it’s very poor communication skills from Clarence council,” she said.
Sheenagh Neill, of Bellerive, said the newsletter arrived in her mailbox on the Friday before consultation closed on the Monday.
Ms Neill said she had heard about the policy through social media and had put in a submission, but suggested the council could have adopted a better approach.
“They have the addresses of all the dog owners in Clarence, they could have just written to all of us,” she said.
Ms Neill, who walks her kelpie Rufus twice a day, said she hoped for a positive resolution to the contentious policy.
“Leave it as it is. There is no reason for it (to change),” she said.
The council this week said almost 3000 people had submitted feedback and that would be used to inform a second draft of the policy, which would be consulted on later this year.
Ald Chipman said he was grateful to those who contributed to the survey.
“We value the feedback we received and while it has been a mixed response, we recognise that it’s not just about the statistics, but also about the personal stories of the people that use these spaces,” he said.
“This is only the first stage in our consultation and there will certainly be more opportunity for community members to have their say.”
‘Shortsighted’: Leash tightens on dog owners’ freedoms
THERE is no sustainable or plausible argument for restraining the rights of dog owners as part of “short-sighted” proposed changes by the Clarence City Council, says the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania.
The first stage of consultation on the council’s draft dog management policy closed on Monday night, with almost 3000 submissions.
Dogs’ Home chief executive officer Michael Sertori wrote in his submission the charity was “disappointed” not just with the proposed changes, which would limit the number of off-lead exercise areas in the municipality, but also the way the council had “attempted” to consult stakeholders.
“The proposals to change most off-lead dog exercise areas to on-lead and prohibiting dogs from some dog exercise areas is extremely disappointing and reflects local government attitude of decades past,” Mr Sertori wrote.
“It is short-sighted to promote anti-dog-friendly initiatives at a time when the community has experienced the greatest health and social challenge in our respective lifetime with the impact of COVID-19.
“Council’s proposed changes to restrict the freedom of dog owners is short-sighted and will have a negative impact on responsible dog owners.”
Mr Sertori said there were more than 10,000 registered dog owners in Clarence and about 60 per cent of households own a dog.
He said the council should instead be focusing on enforcing the legal obligation of owners to register their dog, with data showing there were at least 2000 dogs with unpaid registration.
“There is no sustainable or plausible argumentto support restraining the freedoms and rights of dog owners,” Mr Sertori wrote.
“We do not understand why council would seek to raise the ire of such a significant, influential, and responsible group to generate the increasing volume and public protest against council seeking to make the changes it now proposes.”
Mr Sertori said the charity was also concerned the council had made public statements inferring they had been consulted prior to the draft changes being announced when they had never been “properly consulted”.
A council spokeswoman said officers spoke to various representatives from relevant organisations over recent months and a letter was later sent to The Dogs Home with an attached record of the conversation.
Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said there would be more opportunities for the community to have a say on the issue.
“We value the feedback we received and while it has been a mixed response, we recognise that it’s not just about the statistics, but also about the personal stories of the people that use these spaces,” he said.
“The feedback we have received from the community will inform a revised draft policy that will then be opened for additional public consultation.”
Four-legged fury marches on against council
A SEA of dog walkers descended on ANZAC Park in Lindisfarne on Saturday morning in protest against Clarence City Council’s Dog Management Policy Review.
The proposed changes include changing ANZAC Park from off-lead to on-lead dog activity only.
Hobart Dog Walking Association president Tanzi Lewis led the charge of angry locals and playful pups coming along for the ride.
“Many dog owners do not know about this consultation and the fact there’s a long list of areas proposed to change from off-lead to on-lead, along with dogs to be banned from some places,” Ms Lewis said.
“The Council has no excuse for not informing registered dog owners, yet the Council’s Dog News was not received by households until two weeks into the consultation and just before Easter.”
Tasmanian Labor spokeswoman Alison Standen was among the throng in attendance, with heavy rain and cold winds not enough to quell the impassioned speeches from local pet owners.
The group held another protest from 1.30pm on Saturday at Bellerive Beach with the irate walkers letting their presence be known.
The Council’s review has also targeted Bellerive Beach as a dog ban zone.
Ms Lewis encouraged people to check the Council’s Schedule of Declared Areas July 2021-2028 and have their say by Monday.
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