Public consultation on the Thames-Coromandel District Council's proposed Dog Control Policy and Bylaw opens today.

The district council is currently reviewing its Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw and public consultation will run until Monday, December 7.

Public consultation on the Thames-Coromandel District Council's proposed Dog Control Policy and Bylaw opens today and closes on Monday, December 7. Photo: File

'The policy and bylaw aren't new [as] they were made in 2004,” explains council. 'However our review has identified that improvements can be made to make the policy and bylaw more robust as well as easier to read and understand.”

The current review has been informed by work from 2013 and 2014, and including previous public submissions.

Council says the extent of changes council is now proposing means it wants to give the community another opportunity to have input.

'We have the policy and bylaw to help manage potential problems and address problems when they do occur. We aim to provide reasonable rules for dog owners while promoting a safe and healthy environment.”

A range of issues have been considered while preparing the proposal and include the protection of wildlife, popularity of district beaches for people during summer, and appropriate dog exercise areas around the district.

Council has also considered the needs of locals and visiting dog owners in regards to rules which are easy to understand, such as generally consistent date and time restrictions and rules for main streets and town centres across the district.

'We are working on signage and will do more work when a revised policy and bylaw are adopted in mid-2016. Until then the current rules apply.”

For more information and to learn how you can make a submission visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Dog Control Policy and Bylay review page.