More from Beth on the current consultation on Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw (For original post click here)
As this is a really important bylaw and policy review that affects nearly all of us, I wanted to send a reminder that consultation is open until 10 May – that’s only two and a half weeks away now. A couple of important points have been brought to my attention: 1)That the wording on the consultation material may be giving false comfort to dog owners and therefore not eliciting a great deal of response. It says: “What is not changing: This review of the current Policy and Bylaw is not intended to change local dog access rules (where dogs are allowed under control no leash, off leash or prohibited areas and designated dog exercise areas). Local dog access rules are determined by local boards.” This statement may be unintentionally misleading for non-speakers of council speak. The draft Bylaw and Policy definitely does propose some significant changes to the days and hours of restriction to dogs on beaches. What it does not do is change the locations that dogs are currently permitted on- and off-leash. This is what is referred to as “access”. 2)There has been an added alternative option that was not brought to local boards’ attention subsequent to the draft proposal being shown to us. This provides an opportunity for local boards to introduce variations to the regionally-preferred consistent time and season rule which could be the default unless local boards are given a mandate to exercise this option through the public consultation process. (For completeness I will say that the Rodney Local Board also had a preference for a consistent time and season rule as this is the cause of most confusion leading to complaints for us, and cost to creating almost bespoke signage in every location. However we were adamant that the public should have their say through the submission process.) For the above reasons I encourage you to circulate this opportunity for members of the public to have their say, again. Regards Beth
Update on the proposed changes to the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw and proposal to ban the sale of fireworks to the public Monday 15 April, 2019 Tēnā koe Thank you for providing your feedback between October and December last year on:
proposed changes to the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013
a proposal to request Government to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public and end their private use.
Public Safety and Nuisance BylawAfter considering feedback from 1865 people, council decided on 28 March 2019 to adopt the proposed changes with minor amendments. Changes will apply from 1 October 2019, including:
to use central government legislation instead of a bylaw to address damage, car window washing, mind altering substances, graffiti, noise, fish offal, gates in parks, fireworks on non-public places, street names and property numbering
to move issues about animals, signage, stormwater and traffic to existing, dedicated bylaw
to prohibit leaving construction materials, boats, shipping containers and consumer goods not on display for sale in public places, unless approved by council
to clarify the expected behaviours and restrictions on the use of public places
to clarify how council makes controls and gives approvals
to clarify which public places the Bylaw applies to and enabling people in control of those public places to approve exemptions
to replace legacy bylaws about fences with changes to the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013.
Banning the sale of fireworks to the general publicFeedback included 7,997 online responses with 89 per cent in support of the proposal. Four fireworks retailers also shared their views and were opposed to the proposal. In response to the feedback, council on 28 February 2019 decided that the request should be sent to the New Zealand Government as proposed.
Mahurangi Festival of Lights Assistance Sought for a Matakana Event to be included. Are you up for it? Please contact Murray Chapman (see contacts below)
The Festival was a huge success last year and this year looks like it will be even bigger and better as we have ATEED involved, this means we will have a much greater advertising reach as they are going to be running a Winter Festival throughout Auckland for all of July.
We want to run the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights during the school holidays in July 8th to 20th and I need some assistance in getting Matakana involved again this year, last year as you know Barbara organised a wonderful Black Tie Dinner and the Village was also lit up, Barbara is going to be away overseas so can’t be involved, do you know of anyone who might like to step up.
We will this year be looking to organise Accommodation and Food packages and if we have events throughout the holidays they can go to it will help bring people into the area, these packages will be advertised through ATEED as well.
We are looking to hold in Warkworth on the 19th July around 6.30pm a “Parade of Lights” where we will encourage locals from all over to use their imagination and light up anything at all for the parade, cars, bikes, beds or even granny in a wheelchair, it would be amazing if we could have a large contingent from Matakana.
The 20th will again have Ice skating, snow, food trucks, amusement’s and the laser light show that night, we had over 4,000 people in Baxter Street last year for the laser light show and it was raining!
I hope that we can arrange events throughout the holidays in Matakana, Snell’s, Omaha, Pt Wells and that they don’t conflict with each other but bring visitors in and give them something to do and look at, any help you can give me would be appreciated.
RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATION – NOTIFICATION Northland Waste here
Matakana Link Road Hearing Scheduled to start on Wednesday 27 March 2019. For more information, please go to the Transport and Roading page here.
New Community Coordination and Facilitation Grant Programme for Community-Led Pest Free Auckland We are pleased to inform you of a new opportunity to support community-led conservation through a new Community Coordination and Facilitation Grant Programme that is now open. This grant will support community-led Pest Free Auckland and regional biodiversity outcomes. The grant is funded through the natural environment targeted rate and we encourage you to apply if your community group/organisation, iwi or school meet the criteria. The purpose of this grant is to help increase delivery of Pest Free Auckland and regional biodiversity outcomes by:
providing funding support for conservation activity coordinators or facilitators. The facilitators should be embedded in the community to strategically increase collaboration, capacity and on the ground delivery of environmental outcomes in priority areas across Auckland
providing funding support for strategic and operational planning, and administrative costs needed to increase the quality and quantity of on-the-ground conservation work.
Projects will be prioritised that occur at a landscape or regional scale, as well as projects delivering new environmental outcomes (rather than business as usual). The total value of the grant is $300,000 and applications up to $50,000 will be accepted. At this stage, the grant will only be available for one year, so we encourage you to apply now. Key dates for grant applications and decisions are below: Grant applications open 10th December 2018 Grant applications close 15th February 2019 Decision advised 25th March 2019 Work to occur after 1 April 2019