Opinions split on dog-free reserve

East And Bays Courier- Not all residents agree that the dog ban on Glendowie’s Tahuna Torea Reserve should be lifted.

St Heliers resident and Forest and Bird central Auckland committee member Nanda MacLaren is one person who feels the reserve area should be kept dog-free.

"I know it’s hard for dog owners to appreciate, but there is a group of people who actually enjoy not having dogs around," she says.

The Auckland City Council banned dogs from the reserve in 2004, given the importance of the area to wading birds.

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"It seems fair that the council should give this group a place to enjoy themselves, as much as they support other minority groups."

When the council considered the ban submissions were made in support of it and suggested that people be allowed to enjoy a reserve that was free at all times from the presence of dogs, given that Tahuna Torea is the only reserve on the Auckland isthmus where dogs are banned.

Ms MacLaren says that before the bylaw was in place, people would still let their dogs off the leash. The size and location of the area made it very difficult to enforce any leashing requirements within the reserve.

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Written submissions to the council regarding dog bylaws and policies can be submitted until May 2. A hearing will be held at a later date.