Community has its say on dog management

MORE than 600 people have had their say on the future of dog management in Clarence, with strong community interest recorded during the first stage of a review of the city’s Dog Management Policy.
The three-month consultation attracted more than 600 survey responses, 24 written submissions and almost 200 face-to-face conversations with residents.
Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said residents from across the municipality had taken the opportunity to share their views.
“People from all ages and interest groups got behind our latest engagement, from South Arm to Richmond, Tranmere to Risdon Vale, every corner of our community had its say on dogs,” he said.
“The results from this engagement, and the breadth of participation, give us a strong base to create a policy that reflects community expectations.
“The message is clear, people value dogs as part of our community but they also expect responsible ownership and respect for the shared spaces we all enjoy.”
Residents were asked about issues including responsible dog ownership, effective control, exercise areas, on-lead requirements, beach access, safety around dogs, nuisance behaviour and enforcement.
Dog waste emerged as one of the major concerns, with a large majority of survey respondents reporting they had seen discarded dog waste during the previous three months.
Mayor Blomeley said responses around effective control also highlighted the need to balance differing views about how public spaces should be shared.
“The community’s response to our questions about effective control highlights a need for a policy that balances different community perspectives,” he said.
Feedback will now be considered by an independent submissions review panel, which will identify key issues and explore areas where common ground and practical solutions can be found.
“The panel will play an important role in reviewing all feedback received, identifying key issues and helping to explore areas of common ground, compromise and practical solutions,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“This is about more than just a policy, it’s about building trust through genuine engagement and making sure people can see how their input is shaping outcomes.”
The outcomes of the first round of consultation are expected to be released publicly towards the end of October.
A draft Dog Management Policy will then be released for another round of community consultation before being considered by councillors for adoption in 2027.