Survey (feedback form) - Draft Access Areas for Dogs Policy

Council is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Access Areas for Dogs Policy.

Please provide your feedback by completing the survey below by: 11:59pm on Sunday, 11 June 2023.

What is wrong with the existing Access Areas for Dogs Policy?

Shoalhaven City Council’s Access Areas for Dogs Policy has been revised to better manage dog access areas in line with community expectations, environmental considerations and relevant legislation. 

What’s changed? 

• To minimise confusion, terminology used within the proposed policy has been brought into line with terminology used in other relevant legislation (law). 
• The existing policy includes a ‘static’ list of all off-leash and dog-prohibited areas defined by Council. This means new off-leash sites are only able to be considered during policy reviews (typically every four years).  
• The list of off-leash and dog-prohibited sites has been removed and replaced with a set of provisions defining how Council will designate (process and determine) ‘off-leash’ and ‘dog-prohibited’ areas (ref. s3.7 & s3.8 of the draft policy). 
• A list of off-leash and dog-prohibited sites will be maintained and made publicly available via Council’s website, guideline materials, and other channels.
• The proposed Dogs Policy will enable Council to manage issues that may arise in off-leash or dog-prohibited areas, such as: shorebird nesting; biodiversity loss; and social and cultural matters (such as Indigenous heritage or conflicts arising from high-use). This approach is known as ‘adaptive management’, and will allow Council to be responsive to changes in conditions as they arise. 
• Off-leash and dog-prohibited areas will be determined in accordance the proposed Dogs Policy (including s3.8, which outlines what steps will be taken to facilitate public scrutiny and transparency). 
• We’ve worked hard to develop a clear policy statement and clear objectives for the Dogs Policy. This will provide clarity to all stakeholders about outcomes Council is seeking to achieve under the policy. The policy statement and objectives have been carefully calibrated in accordance with relevant legislation (law).
• A classification system has been established to clearly define three types of dog access areas in public places. The system is based on easily recognised conventions used in traffic lights (red, orange, and green). 
• Signage and guidelines will be developed using the ‘traffic light’ system; RED for dog-prohibited areas, ORANGE for dog on-leash areas, and GREEN for off-leash areas. 

Your feedback is important to help us understand what you think encourages positive shared-use of public places in the Shoalhaven, and will be used to inform any further revisions to the proposed draft Access Areas for Dogs Policy.

Submissions close at: 11:59pm on Sunday, 11 June 2023.