Wellington City Council’s Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee adopted the proposed Animal Bylaw, Domestic Animal and Dog Policy on the 10th April.
Importantly for Island bay was a decision on dog access on Island Bay beach. A change had been proposed in an attempt protect the dunes.
The council received a lot of feedback on this that influenced the decision, which will leave the beach and dog access as it currently is.
More details can be found here: https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2024/04/animal-policy-2024
‘A proposal to swap around the ‘off-leash’ and ‘prohibited’ areas at Island Bay Beach met with significant opposition from local residents (87%), citing the current off-leash area as a vital ‘community asset’.
While many supported the intention to protect the dunes, many disagreed with the proposed solution.
The adopted recommendation is to maintain the status quo and explore alternative interventions like improved signage and education campaigns to achieve desired ecological outcomes without restricting dogs, says Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon.
“We will work closely with officers, volunteers, environmental groups and the community to ensure the dunes are well-maintained, monitored, and their value better understood by everyone.
“We will also explore how we can further restore and protect dunes through the development of the Coastal Reserves Management Plan.”‘
islandbay.org 