Fenced dog parks may now be developed in Central Otago after councillors adopted the Dog Control Bylaw 2020 at last week’s council meeting. 

It is great news to the Cromwell Dog Park Committee, which has been working to develop a dog park in the town for over a year. 

Central Otago District Council (CODC) Regulatory Services Manager Lee Webster said the adoption of the Dog Control Bylaw 2020 and Policy at the last Council meeting now provides the ability for fenced dog parks to be developed. 

“This is the initial step to making the dog parks a reality, and requires community support and funding to make them a success,” he said. 

“We look forward to working with the community in Clyde and Cromwell with their proposals regarding the style of fencing to discuss these with the respective community boards in 2021.”

Cromwell Dog Park Committee member Raewyn Chatfield said it is a huge step closer to being able to have a fenced dog park.

“Which means not only will dogs have a safe space to exercise and play off leash but a great environment to socialise with other dogs,” Raewyn said. 

“Owners too, benefit from interacting with others by sharing their experiences and dog stories. It's a good way to inform and educate on all dog related issues.”

The Cromwell Dog Park Committee will meet late January 2021 and work closely with CODC and start to plan what the Dog Park in Cromwell will look like.

The bylaw also covered topics including fees and registration of dogs, prohibited areas, re-homing of dogs, ownership of more than three dogs, and on and off-leash areas. 

Submission on the Dog Control Bylaw 2020 found the majority of submissions supported the ability to have fenced dog parks. 

“A number of submissions stated that the cost of fencing should be met by Council, while others advised that if communities fundraised to install the fencing initially, some assurance from Council was requested if the dog park needed to be relocated, whereby the costs of removing and reinstalling the fencing would be addressed by Council.”

Fenced dog parks may now be developed in Central Otago. 

The Panel did not accept that the costs of fencing should be met by the Council. 

“However, they did accept the need to include a provision to provide some assurance to the community that the cost of relocating the fencing of an authorised dog park would be met by Council, if the dog park land is identified for other purposes and the fencing needed to be moved to a new location."

Raewyn said the Cromwell Dog Park Committee will be gathering ideas for the planning and start fundraising to cover the cost of fencing the Dog Park.  

“We welcome anyone who is passionate or has expertise they can share to join us or contact us through our Facebook Page.

“In the New Year the Cromwell Dog Park Committee will be rounding up all who would like to be involved in the fun part of getting creative with design ideas for Cromwell's own possible facility. 

“With the large numbers of Dogs in Cromwell and people now travelling more with their dogs, a fenced Dog Park will be an asset to Cromwell and a welcomed addition on the map as a safe place for travellers to visit with their dogs.”

The first Public meeting held to gauge interest in a Fenced Dog Park for Cromwell took place in 22 July 2019