Keeping of Animals Bylaw submissions show support for the proposed provisions around keeping of cats in urban areas

Buller District Council received 32 submissions during the Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022 second round of consultation between 3 July and 31 July 2023. 24 submissions were emailed or submitted online and eight were handed in as hard copies. Four submitters indicated they wanted to speak to their submission during the hearing in August - September.

Acting chief executive officer Sean Judd says: “It is great to see the community taking up the opportunity to have their say on the proposed changes.”

Council began the review of the Keeping of Animals Bylaw last year, with the main purpose to minimise the nuisance caused by animals to neighbours and those living nearby. Council received 63 submissions during the first round of consultation between 13 September and 11 October 2022.

In December 2022, Council met to consider the submissions and listen to people who wanted to speak. Taking into account the feedback, Council suggested some changes to the definition of urban areas and the provisions around keeping of cats in urban areas. These changes were considered of sufficient significance that Council had to go out again for public consultation this July.

Mr Judd says: “Council will again consider all submissions and listen carefully to the speakers at the hearing to bring our community’s voice to the final bylaw.”

A first analysis of the results shows a strong support for the proposed provision around keeping of cats in urban areas. The proposed bylaw recommended that the number of cats in urban areas is limited to two per property and that they should be desexed, microchipped and registered with the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (with exemptions for certified breeding animals).

All 32 submitters responded to this question, with 63% strongly agreed with the proposal, 9% agreeing, while 6% disagree and 19% strongly disagreed. A number of submitters indicated even further and stricter guidelines should be in place.

The second change to the urban area boundaries – so that only Westport, Carters Beach and Reefton are classified as urban areas, received 27 submissions. Opinions were mixed - 26% strongly agreed with the change, 26% strongly disagreed, and 33% neither agreed nor disagreed.

Councilors will listen to organizations or individuals who indicated they wish to speak to their submission during a hearing in August - September. This will be live streamed to council’s YouTube channel. The submissions will be made publicly available on Council’s website before the hearing.

After considering all submissions, Council will make any further changes to the proposed Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022, with the final bylaw being adopted by October. As soon as it is adopted, the bylaw comes into effect.

-ENDS-

For more information contact:
Acting chief executive
Sean Judd
[email protected]

Notes to the reader: