City of Unley Animal Management Plan
2012-2016
Draft
AUGUST 2011
LEVEL 1 160 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY VIC 3065 AUSTRALIA t. +61 3 9419 7477 e. [email protected]
f.T +61 3 9419 7577 w.T www.harlockjackson.com.au
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 4 2 BACKGROUND...... 5 2.1 The City of Unley 5 2.2 Council’s animal management responsibilities 5 2.3 Animal management at the City of Unley 7 2.4 Relevant strategies and plans 8
3 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK...... 9 4 ACTION PLANS...... 10 ATTACHMENT 01...... 29
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Animal Management Plan has been prepared to guide the City of Unley’s management of dogs and cats from 2012-1016. It has been prepared to comply with Section 26A of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 which requires every Council in South Australia to prepare a plan relating to the management of dogs and cats within its area.
Council’s goals for animal management are:
+ To improve Council’s management of its responsibilities under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995; and
+ To achieve an improvement in responsible pet ownership.
The Plan is structured according to 11 Key Issue Areas. Each Key Issue Area has one or more objectives and an action plan that details the new actions Council will undertake over the next 5 years to achieve the animal management goals and objectives.
The Plan contains a set of Key Performance Indicators that will be used to monitor Council’s progress in achieving its animal management goals and objectives.
Key recommendations of the Plan include:
+ A review of existing measurements systems to ensure capture of data to enable reporting against the KPIs (Year 1).
+ An Annual Report, which reports on Council’s progress in implementing the Plan (Annual).
+ Rationalisation of signage and other information sources relating to dog’s access to public places (Year 1-3).
+ An increase in dog registrations to fund the actions that cannot be funded from existing resources (Year 1).
+ A comprehensive education and enforcement strategy relating to dogs and their access to public places (beginning Year 1).
+ Review of best practice barking complaint management (Year 3).
+ Investigate the use of SMS text messaging to communicate with registered dog owners (Year 1).
It is not proposed to introduce a cat registration requirement at this time. Council receives very few cat related complaints. However a review will be undertaken during the life of the plan including consultation to determine the community’s views of what cat management requirements may be warranted.
Some minor adjustments are proposed to the dogs in parks and reserves requirements.
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1 INTRODUCTION
This Plan has been prepared to guide the City of Unley’s management of dogs and cats for the next 5 years (2011-2016). The preparation of the Plan is required by Section 26A of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (the Act), which requires every Council in South Australia to prepare a plan relating to the management of dogs and cats within its area.
The Act can be found at http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/DOG%20AND%20CAT%20MANAGEMENT%20A CT%201995.aspx
The Plan contains recommendations for a wide range of actions to be undertaken by Council to achieve its animal management goals and objectives. It provides a sound basis from which Council can plan and make decisions relating to the management of dogs and cats over the next 5 years.
The structure of the Plan is as follows:
Section 2 provides a description of the City of Unley, an overview of Council’s responsibilities under the Dog and Cat Management Act and a description of the City’s current animal management service.
Section 3 provides the strategic framework for the plan.
Section 4 contains the detailed action plans and strategies required for Council to achieve its goal and objectives.
Attachment 1 contains the list of on and off leash parks in Unley and those areas from which dogs are prohibited.
The Plan only relates to dogs and cats. This is because the Plan is a statutory requirement of the Dog and Cat Management Act. Other animals kept as pets are not considered.
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2 BACKGROUND
2.1 THE CITY OF UNLEY
The City of Unley is located immediately south of the City of Adelaide. It is bounded by Greenhill Road in the north, Glen Osmond Road in the east, Cross Road in the south and South Road and the Anzac Highway in the west. It is bounded by the City of Adelaide in the north, the City of Burnside in the east, the City of Mitcham in the south and the Cities of Marion and West Torrens in the west.
The Council area includes the suburbs of Black Forest, Clarence Park, Everard Park, Forestville, Fullarton, Goodwood, Highgate, Hyde Park, Kings Park, Malvern, Millswood, Myrtle Bank, Parkside, Unley, Unley Park and Wayville.
Unley is predominantly a residential area, with some commercial and industrial areas. The City encompasses a total land area of 14 square kilometres. The population in 2006 was approximately 35,600 living in 14,867 households. The current estimate of population for 2010 is 38,767.
Demographic trends for Unley include a slowly increasing population and a trend towards smaller households and a higher number of people living in medium density housing.
2.2 COUNCIL’S ANIMAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The objects of the Dog and Cat Management Act are found at Section 3. They are:
+ To encourage responsible dog and cat ownership.
+ To reduce public and environmental nuisance caused by dogs and cats; and
+ To promote the effective management of dogs and cats (including through encouraging de-sexing of dogs and cats).
The Act prescribes responsibilities of dog owners, which include that dogs:
+ Be registered with the Council from 3 months of age (Section 33).
+ Are not allowed to wander at large (Sections 7, 43). This includes that they should be leashed in a public place (not a park) and leashed or under effective control in a park.
+ Are identified in accordance with the regulations (Section 40).
+ Are not allowed to attack, harass or chase a person or animal or bird owned by another person (Section 44).
There are also special requirements for owners of prescribed breed dogs, greyhounds and attack trained dogs, guard dogs and patrol dogs.
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At this time, a dog is satisfactorily identified if it has its registration tag securely attached to it. However it is understood that the DCMB is considering mandatory microchipping of dogs.
Councils are required to enforce these requirements. In addition, Councils can:
+ Make an order against a person that prohibits them from acquiring or becoming responsible for a dog (Section 59A).
+ Appoint a Dog Management Officer and/or Cat Management Officer (Section 68).
+ Set registration fees in accordance with the regulations.
Councils are able to make by-laws under this Act (Section 90) for the control and management of dogs and cats including those that:
+ Limit the number of dogs or cats that may be kept.
+ Fix periods when dogs or cats must be effectively confined to premises.
+ Require dogs or cats to be identified in a specified manner.
+ Make provision for a registration scheme for cats (at this time, cat registration is left to the discretion of individual Councils however it is understood that a state-wide requirement is currently being considered by the State Government).
+ Exempt classes of persons or activities from the application of any of the above by- laws.
If a Council has a Cat Management Officer, that officer is entitled to seize, detain, destroy or otherwise dispose of an unidentified cat. Any other person is able to seize an unidentified cat providing they deliver the cat within 12 hours to a range of prescribed facilities (Section 76).
The Plan of Management required by Section 26A must include provisions for parks where dogs may be exercised off-leash and for parks where dogs must be leashed and may include provisions for parks where dogs are prohibited. This is already addressed by Council’s By-Law No 4 addressed below.
Council contributes 20% of its dog registration fees to the Dog and Cat Management Fund administered by the Dog and Cat Management Board (DCMB).
The DCMB has a range of functions including monitoring the administration and enforcement of the Act and providing support and assistance to Councils. Part of the fund is applied towards the cost of establishing or maintaining facilities used for the detention of dogs and for research or educational programs relating to dog or cat management.
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2.3 ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AT THE CITY OF UNLEY
Funding of animal management
Council’s animal management services are funded through registrations and general revenue. Registration fees collected in 2009/2010 were $85,530.
Council’s schedule of dog registration fees include an annual registration fee of $45 with reductions possible for dogs that are microchipped, trained and/or desexed, variations for greyhounds and working dogs and 50% concessions for dog owners meeting specified criteria.
Animal management by-laws
By-law No 41 (http://www.unley.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1212) relates to the keeping of dogs. It requires people to obtain Council permission to keep:
+ More than 1 dog in a Small Dwelling.
+ More than 2 dogs in premises other than a Small Dwelling.
A small dwelling is defined as a flat, a serviced flat, home unit, strata unit, community lot or a suite of rooms, which is wholly occupied or designed or intended to be occupied as a separate dwelling.
It also distinguishes between Dog Off-Leash Areas, Dogs on Leash and Dog Prohibited Areas.
Council has 32 identified parks and reserves in the City. Six of these are off-leash at all times whilst 13 are available for off-leash exercise from 5pm to 10am the following day. Dogs are prohibited from 3 parks. Dogs may be exercised in the designated off-leash areas providing no organized sporting activities are taking place and the person responsible for the dog maintains effective control at all time. The list of dog exercise areas is contained in Attachment 1.
Dog Prohibited Areas are defined in the By-law as:
+ Children’s Playgrounds on Local Government Land, which are defined as an enclosed area in which there is equipment or other installed devices for the purpose of children’s play (or within 3m of such devices if there is no enclosed area).
+ Any other designated areas.
There are no requirements in By-law No 4 relating to cats.
All Council’s by-laws were comprehensively reviewed in 2008.
1 HTTP://WWW.UNLEY.SA.GOV.AU/SITE/PAGE.CFM?U=1212
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Animal management data
Council’s key animal management statistics are set out below.
2007/2008 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010
Dog attack/harassment 37 37 24 30
Barking 133 133 87 89
Impounded dogs 70 70 76 74
Dogs wandering at large 381 381 317 257
Unregistered dogs 63 63 58 74
2.4 RELEVANT STRATEGIES AND PLANS
City of Unley Community Plan 2015 (as amended September 2009)
Community Direction 1 of this Plan seeks to:
Foster a vibrant active community that enjoys a creative, safe and healthy lifestyle. Promoting well-being through leisure and learning.
Direction 1 is relevant to this Plan for the twin issues of community safety and nuisance associated with dogs and cats and the well-recognised health benefits from owning pets (which includes the benefits associated with people exercising their dogs in Council’s parks).
The Community Plan recognises that reserves and parks are one of the City’s valued assets and contribute to the well-being of residents through active and passive recreational use. It says the availability of reserves and parks in the City is one of the lowest in the metropolitan local government area and that every opportunity to increase and optimise use of available open space is important.
City of Unley Open Space and Recreation Strategy 2004-2014
This plan identifies the twin (and sometimes competing) issues of:
+ The safety of park users including the control and management of dogs; and
+ Having appropriate areas to exercise dogs.
The strategy states that it is desirable that Council develop a purpose built dog park. (purpose designed spaces for people to exercise their dogs). It notes that other Council’s are developing them at a range of approximately 1.5-2km apart. This Plan addresses the case for Unley to consider the establishment a Dog Park in line with the Open Space Strategy.
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3 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The goals of this Plan are:
+ To improve Council’s management of its responsibilities under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.
+ To educate the community in responsible pet ownership.
The Plan has 11 Key Issue Areas, which include:
+ Number of dogs per household
+ Registration and identification
+ Dogs in public places
+ Removing dog faeces from public places
+ Dogs wandering at large
+ Excessive barking
+ Dangerous dogs
+ Cat management
+ Educating the community in responsible pet ownership
+ Resourcing requirements
+ Implementation
Each Key Issue Area has one or more Objectives and an Action Plan, which provides the specific actions that Council will undertake in the next 5 years.
Implementation of the Plan will be monitored according to the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
+ Number of registered dogs.
+ Dog complaints (number per 1000 population).
+ Enforcement success rate (% of successful prosecutions).
+ Dog attacks (number causing injury per 1000 population).
+ Dog reclaim and rehome rate (as a % of total number of dogs impounded).
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4 ACTION PLANS
The remainder of the Plan contains the specific actions Council will undertake over the next 5 years.
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Key Issue Area 1:
NUMBER OF DOGS PER HOUSEHOLD
OBJECTIVE:
To reduce nuisance associated with keeping multiple dogs on a property.
DISCUSSION:
Council’s by-laws were comprehensively reviewed in 2008 and no changes were proposed to the requirements relating to the number of animals that may be kept without a permit. No changes are warranted at this time although this will be reviewed during the life of the Plan (in particular whether a distinction between small and large dwellings is justified).
Improved criteria are required for assessing applications for keeping more animals than permitted without a permit.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Develop criteria for assessing Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. applications to keep more animals than permitted without a permit. Review the by-law Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. requirement that distinguishes between large and small dwellings.
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Key Issue Area 2: REGISTRATION AND MICROCHIPPING
OBJECTIVE:
To increase the number of registered dogs.
To increase the number of microchipped dogs.
DISCUSSION:
Registrations
All dogs are required to be registered annually. It is thought that the dog registration rate in Unley is high however the actual rate is unknown. There are 2 challenges associated with registrations: obtaining the first registration and ensuring people re-register their dog annually. Council has information about registrations on its website and follows up those who have not re-registered their dogs.
Many Councils undertake annual or periodic doorknocks to identify any unregistered dogs. This is costly and many Councils have had mixed results. It is not proposed to do this at Unley. However Council’s follow up of dogs that have not been re-registered includes doorknocks where required.
It is proposed in the short term to focus on education via increased media communications.
Some Councils are starting to use SMS reminders as detailed in Strategy 9 Education. Council will explore this for following up re-registrations. If used, it would complement other strategies used to increase registrations.
Identification
Identification by permanent microchip is highly desirable. It is understood that the DCMB is considering introducing a state-wide mandatory microchipping requirement for dogs. In view of this, it is not proposed to further consider introducing a local by-law that would require Unley’s dogs (and in due course cats) to be microchipped.
To encourage people to microchip their dogs, Council offers a reduced fee for microchipped dogs.
In 2009/2010, Council also held its first microchipping day in conjunction with Microchip Australia whereby dog owners were offered microchipping at a subsidised rate of $25/animal. It was promoted through local media and letters to all registered dog owners who did not have their dog microchipped (n=1500-1800 letters). Two hundred people took up the offer. The cost to Council was $2-3000 as the owner paid for the chip and Microchip Australia arranged and funded the service eg provided the vets and administrative support.
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ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Develop a press release for Year 1 of Plan and ongoing. Within existing resources. rotational inclusion in local media on the need for and benefits of registration and the implications if a dog is not registered. Continue to hold 1 Annual. $2,500 pa approximately. microchipping day a year. Each one should be evaluated and reviewed. Investigate using the GIS Year 1 of Plan Within existing resources. system to have an accurate pictorial record of where dogs are registered, where attacks occur and where there are complaints. Investigate the use of SMS Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. reminders to remind dog owners to re-register their dog.
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Key Issue Area 3: DOGS IN PUBLIC PLACES
OBJECTIVE:
To ensure the requirements relating to dogs and their access to public places are appropriate for Unley and are adhered to by dog owners.
DISCUSSION:
The requirements
Dogs are required to be leashed in public places except in parks and reserves where Council has a by-law that prohibits them from or allows them to be exercised off the leash. In off-leash areas, dogs are required to be kept under effective control. This can be problematic because of varying ability or willingness of people to control their dog and varying understanding of what effective control of a dog means.
Unley has 6 parks where dogs are allowed off the leash at all times and 13 parks where dogs are allowed off the leash from 5pm to 10am. There are 3 parks where they are prohibited and a generic prohibition from ovals when organised sport is underway and within 3m of children’s play equipment.
The parks were comprehensively reviewed as part of the development of the previous Animal Management Plan and no variations were proposed with the exception of McLeay Park, Unley, which was recommended to become an on-leash park. This change did not eventuate following further consultation with the community. The park remains an off- leash park from 5pm until 10am the next day with the exception of the area inside fenced area housing the play equipment.
Neighbouring municipalities were contacted to determine the spaces available to dogs and restrictions on access.
Mitcham: Default off-leash, 14 parks that are either on-leash or dogs prohibited, 1 Dog Park and up to 5 more Dog Parks proposed.
Adelaide: Default on-leash, 7 off-leash areas, 1 Dog Park proposed, 3 dog prohibited areas plus a range of smaller spaces where they are prohibited.
Burnside: allowed off-leash– requirements around playgrounds and sporting events. One dog park.
West Torrens: allowed off-leash. One dog park.
Marion: allowed off-leash, prohibited in Hallet Cove Conservation Area.
Norwood, Payneham and St Peters: default on-leash, 11 off-leash parks.
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It is considered that Unley’s requirements are appropriate given Unley’s shortage of public open space. Increasing the number of off-leash parks is not possible because no other potential candidates exist at this time. Reducing the number of off-leash parks to one or two dog parks would bar many people without access to a car.
It is however recommended that Windsor Street Pathway, Fullarton and the Glen Osmond Green Corridor become on-leash spaces. This is because they are not appropriate as Dog Exercise Areas because they are linear parks.
In addition, it is recommended that the existing time restriction in 13 of the parks be extended to 6pm from November to March to reduce conflicts with people who visit parks at a later time of the day during hotter months. Dogs would be allowed to be exercised off the leash from 6pm until 10am from 1st November to 31st March, and from 5pm until 10am from 1st April to 31st October.
A default requirement?
It is proposed to shift to a default on-leash requirement rather than listing all parks and categorising them as on or off leash or dogs prohibited. It is considered simpler, removes the need for such extensive signage and overcomes the possibility that a park may be missed because it is not included in one of the categories.
Does Unley need a Dog Park?
Some Councils are creating Dog Parks. These are purpose-designed spaces for dogs and their owners. They are different from off-leash parks, which are generally spaces that are shared with all users of open space. In most cases, dog parks are additional spaces to the off-leash parks already provided for dogs and their owners.
The Open Space and Recreation Strategy recommended Council investigate providing a Dog Park within the City.
A joint venture with the City of Adelaide will be considered (with the possibility of providing a Dog Park close to the border with the City of Unley). As a priority, Council will consider piloting a dog park at Scammell Reserve or Ridge Park, or other appropriate locations that are away from children's play facilities. This will be in line with Strategy 4.2 (Dog Exercise) of the City of Unley Open Space Recreation Strategy.
Signage and other information
Existing signage and information provided in brochures and on Council’s website needs to be comprehensively reviewed – including wording, images, location of signs in parks and consistency across the information sources. The signage and other information should be audited every 5 years.
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Education and enforcement
It is recommended that Council boost its education and enforcement of leash requirements, non-presence in areas where dogs are prohibited and keeping dogs under effective control in off-leash areas. Key elements should include establishing a code of conduct for Dog Exercise Areas including a focus on what it means to have your dog under effective control.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Remove Glen Osmond Green Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. Corridor and Windsor Street Pathway from the list of off- leash areas (to become on- leash areas). Extend the time dogs are Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. required to be on-leash in Councils 13 time restricted off-leash areas to 6pm from 1st November to 31st March. Focus on establishing a Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. default on-leash requirement with listed off-leash areas and areas from which dogs are prohibited. Complete the audit of Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. signage, website and other information sources. Investigate the possibility of Year 1 of Plan. To be scoped and developing a Dog Park in the determined. Adelaide Parklands in conjunction with the City of Adelaide. Consider piloting a dog park Year 1 of Plan. To be scoped and within the City of Unley away determined. from children's play facilities.
Replace signage in line with Year 2 of Plan. To be scoped and the audit of information determined. sources. Develop an education and Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. enforcement strategy for dogs and their access with their owners to public places. This should include a code of conduct for effective operation of off-leash areas.
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Review the control of dogs on Year 2 of Plan. Within existing resources. reserves/parks to reflect the requirements of the City of Unley Open Space Recreation Strategy.
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Key Issue Area 4: REMOVING DOG FAECES FROM PUBLIC PLACES
OBJECTIVE:
To reduce the incidence of un-retrieved dog faeces on public land.
DISCUSSION:
Dog owners are required to remove any droppings left by their dog in public places. Failure to do so is an offence under the Dog and Cat Management Act. However in practice, it is extremely difficult to enforce this requirement.
To assist dog owners to pick up their dogs’ faeces, Council provides 23 bag dispensers in many of its parks.
The cost to Council is approximately $20,000 per annum (excluding the cost of dispensers). The bag take-up rate continues to rise – the dispensers are regularly empty by mid-week. This defeats the purpose if people are relying on bags in the parks to pick up their dog’s faeces. However if the cost continues to rise, it is not likely to be sustainable in the long term.
Council also provides pooch pouches for registered dog owners (pouches for storing bags that can be attached to a dog’s collar or leash).
Council receives regular requests for new dispensers and criteria are required for when and where they should be installed.
Alternatives to providing bags in parks include provision of a package of bags on registration with further bags available for purchase from Council or the seeking of commercial sponsorship of the bags.
The proposed increase in registration fees could cover part of the rising costs of Council providing this service.
Council will review the provision of bags in Year 2. This will include consideration of alternatives and who should pay for it.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Develop criteria for Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. installation of new bag dispensers in Council’s parks and reserves and service levels for replenishing the supply of bags.
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Review the bags in parks Year 2 of Plan. Within existing resources. program including consideration of alternative means of provision. Investigate and trial Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. alternative dispensers that hold more bags.
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Key Issue Area 5: DOGS WANDERING AT LARGE
OBJECTIVE:
To reduce the incidence of dogs found wandering at large.
To optimise Council’s procedures for dealing with dogs found wandering at large.
DISCUSSION:
Council has a Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with dogs found wandering at large.
Council takes dogs that are lost or found wandering at large to the Animal Welfare League (AWL). This consumes considerable Council resources given the distance.
Council has commenced using All Pets on Mt Barker Road as a short-term option. It is closer for staff and residents collecting their dog.
ACTION PLAN:
ATION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Review the use of All Pets as Year 2 of Plan. Within existing resources. a temporary holding facility for lost dogs. Develop a press release for Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. rotational inclusion in local media dealing with the need to securely confine dogs and the implications if your dog is found wandering at large.
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Key Issue Area 6: EXCESSIVE BARKING
OBJECTIVE:
To reduce the number of barking dog complaints.
To maximise the number of barking dog complaints that are successfully resolved.
DISCUSSION:
Council has detailed information for both dog owners and complainants about the procedures for dealing with barking dog complaints.
Council presently uses the diary system for dealing with barking dog complaints. Council also hires out citronella collars ($35 for a two week hire). If owners of problem dogs wish, they can purchase a citronella collar for around $90.
Council has a Standard Operating Procedure for responding to barking dog complaints. This was reviewed and approved during the life of the last Plan.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Monitor the progress of the Ongoing. Within existing resources. bark counting collar and research into barking nuisance. Review the procedures for Year 3 of Plan. Within existing resources. dealing with barking dog complaints.
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Key Issue Area 7: DANGEROUS DOGS
OBJECTIVE:
To minimise the risks of dog attack to the community from dangerous dogs.
DISCUSSION:
The number of dog attacks in Unley is not high, however reducing risk and responding to those that do occur is a core animal management role. This includes dogs that attack, harass, chase or otherwise endanger the health of a person, animal or bird owned by or in the charge of another person (whether or not actual injury is caused). Most reported attacks occur in and around the family home or when the dog is wandering at large. Very few attacks occur when dogs are being exercised in off leash areas.
Key initiatives include early socialisation and training of dogs, ensuring dogs are not permitted to wander at large and educating the community (particularly children) in bite avoidance ie how to behave around dogs.
Current Council initiatives include:
+ A Standard Operating Procedure for responding to Dog Attacks. This was reviewed and approved during the life of the last Plan.
+ Council responds promptly to reports of dogs wandering at large.
+ The Kids and Dogs brochure is included on Council’s website.
+ Council provides Dog Obedience Classes at 2 of Council’s reserves.
+ Council has a program that visits each primary school in the City of Unley every 3 years to provide 5-8 year olds instruction in bite avoidance.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Continue the school visits Ongoing. Within existing resources. program whereby each primary school in the City of Unley receives a visit by a Council ranger once every 3 years to provide instruction to 5-8 year olds in bite avoidance.
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Ensure the related brochures Ongoing. Within existing resources. available on Council’s website are available at Council reception. Boost the promotion of the Year 1 of the Plan and Within existing resources. benefits of dog obedience ongoing. classes via local media and other communications methods. Develop a press release on Year 1 of the Plan and Within existing resources. the implication for you and ongoing. your dog it attacks, harasses, chases or otherwise endangers the health of a person, animal or bird for rotational inclusion in the local media. Media to include media releases as well as City of Unley publications such as Unley Life, website and community newsletters. Develop a press release on Year 1 of the Plan and Within existing resources. bite avoidance for rotational ongoing. inclusion in the local media. Media to include media releases as well as City of Unley publications such as Unley Life, website and community newsletters.
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Key Issue Area 8: CAT MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVE:
To continue to manage cats as deemed appropriate for the City of Unley.
DISCUSSION:
Council has no specific requirements relating to cats.
Information for residents about cat management is provided on Council’s website. People making complaints are referred to CATS Incorporated and the DCMB website.
Council could introduce a series of local requirements relating to cats including that they be:
+ Registered;
+ Identified;
+ Confined for all or part of the day; and/or
+ De-sexed.
The possible reasons for introducing any of these requirements could be to minimise nuisance, to protect wildlife and to reduce reproduction rates.
No specific cat related requirements are considered to be required as a priority at this time. This is because:
+ Very few cat complaints are received (3-5 per year);
+ The current cost to Council of cat management is minimal (an annual donation of $1,500 to CATS Incorporated);
+ Council does not have ecologically fragile areas as defined under the Act;
+ These matters are considered better dealt with on a state-wide basis; and
+ State-wide requirements are understood to be being considered.
Council will however begin to collect data on cat complaints for future assessment of a need to introduce any of these requirements in Unley. Council will also consult with the community to determine whether any of these cat management requirements are warranted.
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ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Provide a donation to CATS Annual. $1,500 pa. Inc for the services they provide to the local community. Start to collect data on cat Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. complaints. Undertake a review of the Year 2 of Plan. Within existing resources. case for introducing any of the possible cat management requirements including consultation with the community.
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Key Issue Area 9: EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY IN RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP
Objective:
To implement appropriate community education activities designed to achieve responsible pet ownership.
Discussion:
The DCMB operates education programs and activities on a state-wide basis. However Council should develop its own education programs to reflect local priorities.
Council’s primary education priority over the life of this Plan will relate to dogs and their access to public places including effective operation of off-leash areas and compliance with leash and no dog requirements in other areas.
Council will consider trialling the use of SMS text messaging. This is starting to be used by Councils to communicate with registered dog owners. It could be used to remind dog owners about re-registering their dog. This would not replace the first reminder notice, but act as reminder close to or after the due date. SMS text messaging would not replace other education methods.
Action plan:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Develop and implement an Year 1 of Plan and ongoing. Within existing resources. education strategy for all aspects of dogs’ access to public places. Consider inserting educational Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. materials into annual registration reminders. Consider use of SMS text Year 1 of Plan. Within existing resources. messaging to communicate with registered dog owners.
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Key Issue Area 10: RESOURCING REQUIREMENTS
OBJECTIVE:
To ensure there are funds available to implement the Plan.
DISCUSSION:
It is important that the initiatives contained in this Plan can be funded.
Council’s animal management activities are funded by general rate revenue, dog registration, expiation fees and fines for breaches of the Act. Twenty per cent (20%) of the monies received from registrations are transferred to the state-wide Dog and Cat Management Fund. Dog registration fees and expiation fees are applied by Regulations under the Act, whilst fines are applied as a result of court action.
If the current registration fee was increased this would generate additional income from dog registrations to assist with the implementation of those items contained in this Plan that cannot be paid for from existing resources. It is considered that an increase is warranted.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Increase dog registration fees Year 1 of Plan and then Within existing resources. to the maximum fee as set by annually the Dog and Cat Management Board.
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Key Issue Area 11: IMPLEMENTATION
OBJECTIVE:
To establish and report against a set of Key Performance Indicators.
DISCUSSION:
Implementing the Plan requires a careful attention including assigning responsibility to a specific Council officer, developing KPIs and preparing an annual report.
The DCMB requires2 Councils to establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for assessing Council’s progress in implementing the Plan. The KPIs developed under this plan are included in Section 3. An early focus will be trialling the use of these KPIs and establishing the data collection procedures for measuring progress.
ACTION PLAN:
ACTION WHEN RESOURCES REQUIRED
Submit the Plan to the DCMB Year 1 of the Plan. Within existing resources. for approval. Assign responsibility for Year 1 of the Plan. Within existing resources. implementation of the Plan to the Manager of Parking and Rangers. Review existing measurement Year 1 of the Plan. Within existing resources. systems to ensure capture of all the proposed data to enable reporting against the adopted KPIs. Evaluate the set of Key Year 1 of the Plan. Within existing resources. Performance Indicators and adopt a set for reporting purposes. Produce an annual report on Annual. Within existing resources. the progress in implementing the Plan with recommendations for amendments to Council and for inclusion into Councils Annual Report
2 REFER DCMB’S POLICY FOR APPROVING PLANS OF MANAGEMENT RELATING TO DOGS AND CATS.
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Attachment 01
List of on- and off-leash parks and parks where dogs are prohibited in the City of Unley
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City of Unley DOG EXERCISE AREAS
Dog Prohibited Areas
Within any enclosed area where there is children’s play equipment;
Within 3 metres of children’s play equipment (if area is not enclosed)
And at the following locations:
+ Dora Gild Playground Reserve, Clarence Park
+ Princess Margaret Playground Reserve, Black Forest
+ Forest Avenue Reserve, (Black Forest Primary School - joint initiative), Black Forest
Dog on-leash areas
Dogs must remain on-leash at the following locations:
+ Ferguson Avenue Reserve, Highgate
+ Fern Avenue Reserve, Fullarton
+ Hackett Reserve, Parkside
+ Haslop Reserve, Malvern (Unley Primary School)
+ Henry Codd Reserve, Parkside
+ Heywood Park (eastern sector), Unley Park
+ Leicester Street Playground Reserve (open area), Parkside
+ Morrie Harrell Playground Reserve (open area), Unley
+ Soldiers Memorial Gardens, Unley
+ Soutar Park (north of east-west path), Goodwood
+ Yeo Avenue Reserve, Highgate
+ North Unley Playground Reserve (open area), Unley
+ Simpson Parade (Drain) Reserve, Wayville
+ Charles Walk – Linear Walk, Unley
+ Glen Osmond Creek – Linear Walk, Parkside
+ Windsor Street – Linear Walk
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Off-leash areas at all times (providing dog remains under effective control)
Off-leash areas at all times (providing dog remains under effective control) except when organized sporting activity or organized events are being conducted.
+ Unley Oval, Unley
+ Goodwood Oval, Millswood
+ Ridge Park (oval area), Myrtle Bank
+ The Orphanage (oval areas), Millswood
Off-leash areas between 5pm and 10am the following day (providing dog remains under effective control). At all other times they must be on-leash.
+ Everard Park Reserve, Everard Park
+ Forestville Reserve, Myrtle Bank
+ Fraser Reserve, Myrtle Bank
+ Fullarton Park, Fullarton
+ Heywood Park (western sector), Unley Park
+ Howard Florey Reserve, Parkside
+ McLeay Park, Unley
+ Page Park, Clarence Park
+ Scammell Reserve, Myrtle Bank
+ Soutar Park (open area & south of the east-west path), Goodwood
+ Village Green, Unley
+ Wayville Reserve, Wayville
Primary schools – open to the community – dogs on-leash at all times
These are a joint initiative of the City of Unley and the Department of Education & Children’s Services, that allows school grounds to be used for recreation by the community. Dogs must be on-leash at all times:
Unley Primary School – (Weekdays 5pm-9pm, Saturdays 1pm-9pm, Sundays 8am-9pm)
Highgate Schools – (Weekdays 5pm-9pm, Weekends 12noon-9.00pm)
Parkside Primary School – (Weekdays 6pm-9pm, Weekends 12noon-9pm)
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