Residents of the Teviot Valley appear to be pretty happy with their lot with just one suggestion being made for the future.
At the Teviot Valley Community Board meeting last week Central Otago District Council business support group manager Saskia Righarts said the community was invited to use the CODC Let’s Talk online platform to share ideas it wanted to be considered for the next ten years and beyond.
The ideas could be something small that might have a big impact or something bigger that needed to be on the radar, given consideration or explored further. It could have been a project that needed financial support or council backing in some other way. Those who shared ideas could post photos, comment, or like other ideas. The platform was open from April 3 until May 1, 2023. Fifty-eight ideas were received from across the district, with just one coming from Teviot Valley.
The sole suggestion was to establish a fenced-off dog exercise area beside the King George V park alongside State Highway 8. The park has a playground and skatepark and was a popular stopping point for local residents and tourists.
Planning and infrastructure interim group manager Lee Webster said sites in Cromwell and Clyde were identified in 2020 as suitable fenced dog parks. However, the council would not fund the fencing installation or maintenance from rates so the community would have to raise that money.
The council would help provide water for dogs, rubbish bins and seating, shade and signage and mow the grass.
Neither Cromwell nor the Clyde community had moved on with the plan, Mr Webster said.
A dog park in Roxburgh could be developed on the same basis. However, if that was to be done before the next dog control policy review in 2025 there would have to be public consultation.
Mr Webster said previously, as in Clyde and Cromwell, there had been requests for one but once the community was enabled to fulfil some of the requirements, such as fencing, it went quiet. He thought it was likely to happen in Roxburgh as well.
Cr Gill Booth asked if there was need for a dog park. It would be more useful for travellers than residents.
Cr Mark Jessop said having people stop in the town was a good thing and asked how much money the community would be likely to need for suitable fencing.
Mr Webster said there were no figures available but based on personal experience it was likely to be more than $10,000.
Mayor Tim Cadogan asked if more people would stop if there was a fenced area.
Cr Booth said she was often surprised by how many people stopped there and had their dogs out on a lead in the designated dog exercise area near the public toilets.
The board agreed to support the idea in principle and for it to be considered as a wider review of the dog control policy when that next came up for review.
