Our furry friends in Katikati will get their own place to play and roam free, with plans for a dedicated dog exercise area taking shape.
Hot on the paws of the Te Puke Dog Exercise Area opening at Lawrence Oliver Park in October, Western Bay of Plenty District Council approved the next steps for both the Katikati and Ōmokoroa dog exercise areas.
Council has funds allocated through the Long Term Plan 2021-2031 to kick start the creation of both dog exercise areas. The final goal is to create four dog exercise areas across the District in Te Puke, Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach, in response to 68 per cent community support through the Long Term Plan consultation.
What’s happening in Katikati
For the Katikati community a fully fenced urban dog space will be created at Donegal Reserve featuring areas for different size dogs, seating, poop bag dispensers and water stations, on the back of 81 percent local support for this location through recent community kōrero.
Council has $30k allocated to go towards the creation of this dog exercise area and construction is due to start in 2024.
Council’s Senior Recreation Planner, Jason Crummer, says the next step is to work with external funders to source additional funding to bring this park to life.
“This is what Council and community-led development looks like and it’s important we work with the community to source additional funding to create an awesome space for our dogs to exercise,” says Jason.
What’s happening in Ōmokoroa
In Ōmokoroa the decision was made to investigate and consult with the community on Precious Family Reserve as an alternative location for a dog exercise area, alongside the original location we consulted on of Links View Drive Reserve.
Although 56 submitters supported the location of Links View Drive Reserve, we received 35 responses suggesting alternative locations, with Precious Family Reserve being the most common option. Jason says this was important feedback that helped us to reconsider our approach for Ōmokoroa.
“Although Links View Drive Reserve was a popular location, we recognised that Precious Family Reserve deserved further investigation. It has great potential as a location for a dog exercise area, so we’re keen to see what the community thinks.”
We plan to go back out to the Ōmokoroa community in early 2024 to consult on a Precious Family Reserve option.
How we got to this point
The approach for both dog exercise areas was informed earlier this year through the Your Place Tō Wāhi community kōrero , where we received nearly 500 pieces of feedback on the proposed dog exercise area locations and features.
“This awesome community input has helped to shape how we provide safe and secure spaces to exercise our kūri. As a dog loving Council it’s important we respond to our community’s feedback and provide urban dog exercise areas that will meet the needs of our dogs, their humans and the wider community,” says Jason.
“It’s all about providing a destination for dog lovers to exercise their dogs off-lead safely in a fenced enclosure. People told us that water stations and poop bag dispensers and disposal stations were the highest priority, followed by seating, shade, a separate chill-out zone, double gate entry and space for future agility items.”
The Te Puke dog exercise area–is proving paw-pular since opening in October, with hundreds of pooches and their humans using it each week. The park came to life with funding from Council, Te Puke Community Board, TECT and hard mahi from the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Society.
For more information on Western Bay’s dog exercise areas go here.
You can watch the Strategy and Policy Committee kōrero on this project below [starting at 10.05 minutes].
