Access Areas For Dogs Policy

Council would like to thank everyone who has provided feedback in relation to the Review of Access Areas for Dogs Policy review. We would like to also thank all those who assisted in distributing the Community Survey and advising others of the feedback opportunities.

We have received a strong response to the Community Survey with over 1,300 respondents, as well as over 200 attendees across the drop-in sessions. Council staff appreciated the passion of the community and enjoyed having meaningful conversations with a wide variety of community members (in a COVID-Safe manner!).

Next Steps

The Community Survey is now closed, and submissions received by Council up until now will be considered alongside the Community Engagement Summary Report being prepared by Gauge Consulting at the conclusion of the initial Community Consultation phase.

The data collected as part of the Community Survey will be analysed by Gauge Consulting. The outputs will be synthesised and will help inform the second round of Focus Group workshops.

Council is committed to a balanced and transparent approach to the Policy review, which includes allowing appropriate time for the analysis of feedback received. We will provide further information on an anticipated timeline for the remainder of the engagement process in the coming weeks.

We look forward to working collaboratively with the community to find a shared way forward for users of public space in the Shoalhaven.

The Berry and Nowra Drop-in sessions that were postponed due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation have now been rescheduled. See details below:

Where: Broughton Court, Berry
When: Saturday 17 July
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Where: Nowra – Jellybean Park (Egans Lane)
When: Monday 19 July
Time: 10:30am-1:30pm

The drop-in sessions provide additional opportunities for community members to ask questions, seek information and discuss the Access Areas for Dogs Policy Review with Council staff.

Council will continue to take direction from NSW Health and the State and Federal Government as lead agencies in the evolving Coronavirus response in relation to the delivery of events, services and operation of facilities.

Find out more about Council's response to COVID-19.

In response to the NSW Government restrictions relating to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Council staff have decided to postpone the following drop-in sessions for the Access Areas for Dogs Policy review:

Postponed Drop-In Sessions

Where: Berry School of Arts
When: Sunday 4 July

Where: Nowra – Jellybean Park
When: Monday 5 July

At this stage, the three remaining drop-in sessions scheduled for Plantation Point Reserve, Mollymook Beach and Ulladulla Civic Centre will continue as planned, with further assessments made on their feasibility as information comes to hand.

The decision to postpone the Berry and Nowra drop-in sessions was carefully considered, and based on the following reasons:

• Inability of some residents and visitors to attend due to COVID-19 restrictions;
• Consultant unable to attend due to Greater Sydney COVID-19 restrictions;
• Cancellation of Berry Markets; and to
• Ensure safety of the community and Council staff by avoiding un-essential gatherings.

Council will continue to monitor the situation and the Project Team will keep you informed as new information comes to hand, and regarding new drop-in session dates for Berry and Nowra.

We thank you in advance for your understanding and keeping our community safe.

Council invites you to share your experiences with access areas for dogs within the City of Shoalhaven by providing feedback via the Online Survey.

The Online Survey has been informed by issues, opportunities and suggestions identified in stakeholder workshops and community focus groups.

We want to hear from all users of public space within the Shoalhaven. Whether you are a resident, visitor, dog owner or non-dog owner, your experiences and views are valuable. The Survey is open to all who live, work and visit the City of Shoalhaven and will close at 12 midnight on Monday 26 July 2021.

Familiarise yourself with Council’s Access Areas for Dogs Policy and associated Dog Off-Leash Guide, prior to providing feedback.

If you cannot complete the survey online, please contact Council’s Community Planning & Projects Team on (02) 4429 3456 to assist you.

Please be advised that Council is still welcoming written submissions during this time. Send your detailed feedback through to council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au.

Your feedback will help us understand what you think encourages positive shared use of space in the Shoalhaven and will inform the approach to Council’s revised Access Areas for Dogs Policy and associated Dog Off-Leash Guide.

Tell us how we can improve the Access Areas for Dogs in the Shoalhaven by participating in the online survey or by attending a community drop-in session.

It is expected that all participants follow Council’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Adaptability and Collaboration throughout the Policy Review process. This includes being open to differing opinions, ideas and discussions that may include diverse and potentially opposing views. Participants must be understanding and kind to one another throughout this process, and adopt the same approach to Council staff and their representatives.

Please familiarise yourself with Council’s Access Areas for Dogs Policy and Dog Off-Leash Guide, prior to providing feedback.

Survey

Council is seeking feedback through an online survey open from Friday 25 June to Monday 26 July 2021.

If you cannot complete the survey online, please contact Council’s Community Planning & Projects Team on (02) 4429 3456 to assist you.

Community Drop-In Sessions

The drop-in sessions provide additional opportunities for you to speak with Council staff and Gauge Consulting about the policy review and answer questions on the Policy, the Policy Review and provide instructions on how to complete the survey to have your say.

Community Drop-In Sessions will be held at the following locations:

Where: Berry School of Arts (intersection of Princess St and Alexandra St)
When: Sunday 4 July
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Where: Nowra – Jellybean Park (Egans Lane)
When: Monday 5 July
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm

Where: Plantation Point Reserve (near toilet block)
When: Friday 16 July
Time: 7:00am-10:00am

Where: Mollymook Beach (intersection of Donlan Rd south with Mitchell Parade)
When: Friday 16 July
Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm

Where: Ulladulla Civic Centre (grassed area outside Centre)
When: Saturday 24 July
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm

The Community Engagement Strategy for the Access Areas for Dogs Policy Review has been finalised by Gauge Consulting.

Two Stakeholder Workshops are being held with relevant Council staff and key external stakeholders on Wednesday 9 May 2021.

The representatives forming the Community Working Group have been evenly allocated into five Focus Groups which form a mix of self-identified dog owners and non-dog owners. Where possible, participants have been allocated from similar geographic areas to allow discussion of local examples. The Focus Group participants have been contacted in relation to their Focus Group allocation and advised which session they are scheduled to attend on the week beginning Monday 14 June 2021.

Scott Newton, Director of Gauge Consulting, will assist with the design and facilitation of all stakeholder meetings, focus groups, community drop-in sessions and the online survey to ensure there is a balanced approach throughout the Policy Review community engagement process.

The Stakeholder Workshops and Focus Group sessions will inform the content for the online survey.

The online survey will be made available once finalised, and Council welcomes feedback from the community and visitors to the Shoalhaven area. Written submissions are also welcome throughout the Policy Review via council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au.

Five community drop-in sessions will be held at various locations throughout the online survey period, to provide opportunities for the community and wider public to meet Council staff and the Consultant Team to discuss the Policy Review and provide feedback. Details of the dates and locations of the drop-in sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

Council recently requested quotations from a number of experienced and appropriately skilled Consultants to undertake the professional facilitation and support required as part of the community engagement process for the Access Areas for Dogs Policy Review.

Following this, Council assessed and evaluated the quotations received and selected the preferred Consultant. As a result, Council is pleased to announce that Gauge Consulting has been engaged to provide independent facilitation services throughout the community engagement process for the Access Areas for Dogs Policy Review.

Council staff and Gauge Consulting have held an inception meeting to discuss the Policy Review and the community engagement process. The Project Team is currently finalising the Community Engagement Strategy, timeline and consultation dates.

Further details on the Community Working Group dates, online survey and drop-in sessions will be announced once finalised.

Council staff undertook an initial review of the Access Areas for Dogs Policy and Dog Off-Leash Guide, which has led to a draft Issues Paper and identification of key issues and inconsistencies for consideration in the development of the Policy Review. In response to frequent community confusion over dog signage, a signage audit of all Council’s dog off-leash and dog prohibited areas has been completed and will be reviewed to ensure the erection of new signage at the conclusion of the Policy Review is clear and consistent.

Council opened expressions of interest (EOI) to community members for the Community Working Group for the Access Areas for Dogs Policy and Dog Off-Leash Guide review in December 2020. The expressions of interest submission period closed on Sunday 17 January 2021. Council is pleased with the responses received from the community for inclusion as representatives in the Community Working Group. Over 120 submissions were received from a range of demographics reflecting the make-up of the Shoalhaven community. This indicates a high level of interest and engagement from the community in playing a key role in the Policy Review.

Given this level of interest, Council has amended its initial approach to forming the Community Working Group, to now include all those who submitted an EOI to join the committee. Diverse community representation and feedback is extremely important for the success of the review and will contribute to thorough and rigorous community consultation that will inform the Policy Review.

As such, Council is in the process of engaging an external facilitation specialist to provide independent professional services to support Council staff throughout the Community Engagement process on the Policy Review. The external consultant will be engaged in the coming weeks.

Council is asking interested community members to play an important role in the review of the Policy and Guidelines. The Community Working Group will work closely with Council staff to provide meaningful, representative input and feedback on the operation, suitability, and safety of existing dog areas and signage, the potential for new dog areas, the adequacy of the current documents, and more.

The Community Working Group needs to be representative of the widest-possible span of community interests.

We want to receive expressions of interest from:

• women and men
• dog owners
• non-dog owners
• business people, including Tourism operators
• environmental protection authorities
• sporting groups
• people with a disability
• the elderly
• any other person, or group, not identified in this list.

Council is seeking nominations from seven community members from each of the three Council Wards. To find your Ward visit the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Thank you for your interest. The submission period has now closed.