OPEN
MINUTE ITEM ATTACHMENTS
Ordinary meeting of the
Environment
Committee
Tuesday 21 April 2020
Commencing at 1.00p.m. - Hearing of Submissions to Dog Control
Policy and Bylaw Review
via Audio-Visual (Zoom)
5.2 Tabled documents
A. A2371943 - Adrian Abraham - 22738 2
B. A2371733 - Helen Black - 21694 3
C. A2370963 - Erice Jackson - 21697 4
D. A2371714 - Hilary Burbidge and Ross
Whitlock - 21689 6
E. A2372966 - Ferry van Mansum -
21483 7
F. A2362473 - PowerPoint
Presentation - David Melville - 22731 8
Item
5.2: Tabled documents: Attachment 4
Hilary Burbidge and Ross Whitlock – Submission
21689
We have walked along the Maitai /Tantragee Walkway
most days for over 12 years. No matter what time of day or day of the week the
area is being enjoyed by a wide range of people walking and biking with their
dogs. It is a healthy, low cost and thoroughly enjoyable activity that costs
the council little. It is the only area near Nelson city, that is easily
accessible where dogs can be safely off leash (away from roads), uncrowded in a
more rural environment and can be exercised for several kms. There are no
endangered ground birds, no special plants and often no stock. The freedom of
this recreational
amenity to rate payers and visitors you propose to
sacrifice due to "low cost maintenance of grazing" Why not surprise
us dog owners by instead of introducing restrictions upon restriction you
actually embrace us and make this area "a dog off leash area" by
stopping
stock grazing. The maintenance cost of some mowing and
brush cutting could be easily offset by the cost of badly needed improved
fencing (stock often wander), the supply of fresh clean water (often scant
apart from winter and an animal welfare issue) and avoidance of pollution of
waterways by faecal run-off during heavy rain. This area could become a real
gem for Nelson (akin to Rough Island) instead of poor grazing land at best. It
does not have to be manicured parkland, semi wilderness is great and welcomed
by most. As an aside although you mention it is
difficult to get any one to graze the area due to dogs being off leash, I note
that stock seem to be rarely checked and when moved on there are always several
sheep and even adult cows left behind - presumably
unintentionally and often distressed at being
separated from the reminder of the flock/herd. I have never in over 12 years
seen any dog harm stock NZ has space - the Codgers/Tantragee/Groom Creek Road
and Maitai walkway provides near Nelson town access to a longer and more rural
walkway for the simple activity of
exercising their dogs -why continually restrict fit
people and their dogs when this so easily could be a treasured feature of
Nelson.
A2371714
