Council has developed a Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy to provide guidance for the development, improvement, and management of dog-friendly areas within the Kiama Local Government Area (LGA).

This Strategy outlines specific objectives:

• To find a balance between the needs of dog owners and those of the wider community, ensuring parks are accessible and safe for everyone.
• To ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
• To identify any gaps in dog-friendly spaces provision and ensure fair distribution across the LGA.
• To plan for dog-friendly areas in consideration of expected population growth and trends in dog ownership.

The Strategy includes various actions to be carried out over the next decade. These actions are categorised into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals, aligning with the timelines of the Council's Operational Plan, Delivery Program, and Community Strategic Plan.

Between 23 February - 22 March 2024, we asked you to have your say to shape the Draft Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy.

During the consultation, we received 533 survey responses, including two submissions. We also gathered insights from our Compliance, Property, and Engineering staff regarding the challenges they face. Additionally, we reviewed previous community correspondence to the Council, including complaints, reports of dog attacks, and general feedback on dogs in public spaces, to help inform the Strategy.

See the Community Engagement Report (PDF, 506KB) for a full summary of the feedback and insights received during the Community Consultation.

Between 22 June and 21 July 2024, we invited you to review and provide feedback on the Draft Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy. Read the Public Exhibition Summary Report (PDF, 415KB) for a detailed overview of what we heard during the public exhibition.