Dogs could get much more freedom on parks and reserves in the Waitaki district under changes proposed by the Waitaki District Council.
Places where dogs can be exercised off their leads are limited in Oamaru to three areas, but in the future any neighbourhood park or reserve could be used between 7pm and 8am.
That proposal is included in a draft Waitaki reserves management plan going out for public consultation from April 4, but will happen only if the council gets enough support and leaves it in the final plan to be approved on August 6.
The plan outlines how parks and reserves will be managed and developed in the future, including listing what is allowed, controlled or prohibited on them.
Where there were high concentrations of people, such as sportsfields, neighbourhood reserves or areas used by children, dogs could pose a health and safety risk, the draft plan said.
Some reserve areas had important recreation or conservation values that needed to be protected.
In Oamaru, dogs can only be exercised off their leads in Glen Warren reserve in Warren St, Fenwick Park in Chelmer St, and Awamoa Park East in Perth St.
They could also use Cape Wanbrow, but it has been temporarily closed because of danger from windblown trees and clear-felling.
However, when the draft plan went to the council for approval before going out for public submissions, some councillors felt dog owners and their pets were being unduly restricted.
Crs Melanie Tavendale and June Slee advocated more freedom to exercise dogs off their leads, and a proposal to allow that in any park or reserve in the district between 7pm and 8am was added to the draft plan.
Cemeteries were excluded, and councillors emphasised owners were responsible for the behaviour of their dogs and had to pick up their excrement.
However, only if approved in the final plan will the new freedoms be allowed.
