The Teviot Valley Community Board meeting was short and sweet yesterday (Thursday June 15), with nobody appearing in the public forum and few items on the agenda.

Central Otago District Council business support group manager Saskia Righarts presented the only idea for the Teviot Valley ward that came from early community engagement for the council’s 2024-34 Long-term Plan. 

“Make a fenced-off dog exercise area beside the park in Roxburgh so people travelling through have somewhere safe to have their dogs have a run,” was the suggestion.

Staff said sites in Cromwell and in Clyde had previously been identified as potential fenced dog parks but establishment would require community-led funding for fencing installation and maintenance. 

To date, neither dog park had been activated by the community. A similar approach could be used for the provision of a fenced dog park in Roxburgh, staff advised.

Planning and infrastructure interim group manager Lee Webster said community input was needed to advance the idea.

“Council will do its part, then you need to do your part, and it goes quiet,” he said.

“Is there a need for a dog park?” board member Gill Booth asked.

“The dog area is right on a state highway,” board member Sally Feinerman said. “That poses challenges.

Board member Russell Reed said he lived just down from the park and “it seems to be working perfectly well”.

“It’s not a high-usage thing,” he said.

After further discussion, including whether different sized dogs needed different areas, the board agreed that the suggestion of the dog park be reviewed as part of the scheduled review of the council’s dog policy in 2025.

CODC accountant Donna McKewan presented the financial report for the period ending March 31, 2023, which showed the Teviot Valley Ward projected to end the 2022/23 financial year with a closing balance of $393,499.

The report was received by the board.

The board also received a governance report with status updates on various Teviot Valley activities.

The next Teviot Valley Community Board meeting was scheduled for Thursday, July 27.