WHAT’S ON IN COUNCIL THIS WEEK . . .  by Terry Sheldrake GDC Councillor

 

THIS week we have a council Operations meeting. These are held on a six-weekly cycle and cover a host of different functions — including governance and oversight of the council’s operational programmes, services, activities and projects (including major projects) related to environmental operations, community development and infrastructure assets.

The scope of the Operations committee is very broad; for example, it includes overseeing services and protection such as building, enforcement, environmental health, pests and plant management, biodiversity, integrated catchments, land management, animal control  and harbour management.

It also includes infrastructure services, ie urban stormwater, wastewater and water supply; land, rivers and coastal; all issues re our local roading network; plus solid waste, landfill and transfer stations, recycling.

There are two other lead functions, being communities, and planning and development.

In summary, Operations is to provide “operational oversight” overseeing the management of all the council’s physical assets.

This week we have an information report regarding preliminary investigations and progress as to where a new “play park” could be located in Tokomaru Bay. The paper notes that consultation with mana whenua to determine suitability of potential sites, along with the need for stringent climate change modelling and Niwa input, are required before any ultimate decision re location can be made.

Coastal erosion took out this playground in June 2021.

 

We also have a “decision report” regarding dog control policy and practices. Councillors have received a major report re our canine friends and within this document it covers basic dog registration, impounding of dogs, 24-hour ranging service, targeted education,  enforcement and the issuing of infringement notices and prosecutions.

The council has four full-time and one part-time Gisborne-based animal control officers. We also have two full-time officers based at Te Puia Springs. It’s worth noting that the work of these officers covers an area of 8360 square kilometres — a significant geographical area to cover.

Within the document is a detailed schedule of all current classes and relevant fees, ie family pets to working dogs. Currently there are 6313 dog owners within the district who own 11,526 registered dogs across 10 classified categories.

The paper notes the number of transient dog owners fluctuates regularly.

 

The 10 categories as per the report notes: current status are dangerous dogs (13), guide and hearing (4), licensed owners (256), ordinary (5021), pensioner (1048), special owner (812), special owner pensioner (92), working dogs which include the police (4280).

The other two classes are pig hunters’ club (0) and probationary owner (0).

During the year, 635 dogs were impounded. Of this total, 274 were claimed by their owners, a further 65 were returned to owners, 84 were rehomed and 10 were destroyed in the field. Hardly the dogs’ fault, yet the remaining 202 were euthanised.

This is a very detailed report which I’m sure will bring plenty of discussion to the council table on Thursday. When you read such a report, you realise the challenging environment that our dog control officers work in daily.