Council gave the green light to changing the off-leash dog areas in Te Aroha and adding an off-leash dog area in Matamata, at a dog bylaw hearing on Wednesday, 03 November.

In Matamata, changes include turning a portion of Peria Rd Reserve (excluding the memorial plantings and pathway) into a fenced off-leash dog exercise area.

In Te Aroha, changes include turning part of the reserve on Spur Street into a fenced off-leash dog exercise area, expanding the current Spur Street Esplanade area (to be looked after by a community group but available to all) and turning the boat ramp reserve into an on-leash area as it’s prone to flooding and has the Hauraki Rail Trail running through it.

The areas had some basic improvements made for when the bylaw came into place on 1 December.  Council is working with community groups to do further work this year.

Council does not currently have an allocated budget for this project, costs for improved fencing and mowing will come out of our bulk Community Facilities Fund. We have allocated $200,000 within our Long Term Plan budget but not until July 2023. This is the funding Council plans to use when we look into additional features across all of our dog off-leash areas within the next couple of years.

Update as at 17 May 2022

Spur St, Te Aroha 

The off-leash area on Spur St will be temporarily closed from today for at least a week while our contractor installs fencing around the dog park. Signs are up saying the area is closed until further notice. The off-leash areas on the Spur Street Esplanade down by the river, are still open for use.

Update as at 11 May 2022

Peria Road, Matamata 

• Trees on the Western boundary have been pruned
• Fences have been erected by a fencing contractor
• Vehicle entrance gate has been installed and pedestrian access gate to be installed next week
• Exercise area has been cleared and levelled
• Rubbish bin with bag dispenser to be installed
• Water fountain to be installed
• Community partners (Peter Vossen, Matamata Rotary Club and volunteers) have installed the bottom rail of fence
• Signage to be confirmed

Spur Street, Te Aroha  

• Culvert installed to link the major area with a small section under the trees at the Eastern boundary
• Temporary entrance and gate has been installed until permanent fences are erected
• Existing fences on the Southern boundary have been removed, ready for new fence
• Contractor has materials for new fences/gates and installation will be soon, date to be confirmed
• Main exercise area will require levelling and will be completed after fences erected
• Rubbish bin with bag dispenser and water fountain to be installed
• Signage to be confirmed.

Spur St Esplanade extension

• Community partners Ginny and Robbie Hogan and volunteers from K9 Club Te Aroha have established an off-leash area close to the river and are maintaining it well. Council supplied gates and signage for the area.

Update as at 31 March 2022

Peria Road, Matamata 

Completed 

• Fence has been installed around the perimeter of the exercise area
• Gates installed
• Tree work completed on the Western boundary
• Mowed fortnightly
  
  

Still to be completed

• Bottom board on fence (Rotary to erect)
• Dog Doo bin and bag dispenser (ordered waiting on delivery)
• Drinking fountain (ordered waiting on delivery)

Spur Street, Te Aroha  

Completed

• Fence removed and prepared for new fence to erect
• Culvert put in to join small area with the eastern part of park
• Mowed fortnightly
  
  

Still to be completed

• Contractor will start erecting perimeter fence week commencing 4 April 2022 (site meeting completed).
• Area will be out of use until fencing contractor has completed erecting fence (approximately two weeks).
• Area to be levelled once fence has been erected
• Dog Doo bin and bag dispenser (ordered and waiting for delivery)

Volunteers have established the second area closer to the river and are maintaining this area with good results.