People are being invited to join Western Bay of Plenty District Council's doggy themed event to explore plans for a new dog exercise area in Lawrence Oliver Park, Te Puke.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is hosting the community event for dogs and their owners to see and comment on the plans so that when the new exercise area is finished, it gets tails wagging.

The event will take place at 10am on Saturday, March 26, Lawrence Oliver Park, Te Puke, following the Wander Dog Walk along the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway - which starts at 9am outside the Te Puke Squash Club on Landscape Rd and ends at Lawrence Oliver Park.

Council's Senior Recreation Planner, Katy McGinity says dedicated dog exercise areas are a great way to bring the dog-owning community together.

'They provide a safe space for our beloved pets to be exercised securely and they encourage social interactions with other dogs.

'We have a great opportunity to make the exercise area something really special for our dogs and return some of the joy they bring to us. Please come along and share your ideas, so we can get the plans right for our four-legged friends.”

The event will include

• A tour of the site with the proposed separate ‘highenergy' and ‘chill' zones
• Maps of the proposed plan
• Free doggy treat bags
• A chance to chat with Council staff about the plans
• Preevent group dog walk

The proposed dog exercise area is currently out for community feedback as part of Council's review of the Te Puke-Maketu Reserve Management Plan.

A phased approach has been proposed for the development with funding available now to develop the two separate areas and a third area that has potential for community led development.

'Our concept for the dog exercise area includes separate fenced areas for high energy and chilled dogs, shaded areas for dog owners and both dog water and poo bag stations.

'These ideas have all come from our community and we're excited to bring them to life.”

Te Puke is the first of four dog exercise areas in our main urban centres, that are proposed over the next four years as part of Council's Long Term Plan.

Draft concept plans, like the one we have developed for Lawrence Oliver Park in Te Puke, will be developed for sites in Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach in the future.

If you can't make it to the dog exercise area event, please go online and share your thoughts at haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/rmp.

Feedback closes April 26.

Please note: events are subject to Government's Covid-19 Protection Framework and vaccination restrictions. Vaccination passes are mandatory in the red traffic light setting.

Check Council's website or Facebook page for any event updates or cancellations.