Consultation Document - Combined Policy and Bylaw Review 2017 Consultation Document 28 August to 6 October 2017 Combined Policy and Bylaw Review 2017 Dog Control Policy Review Local Alcohol Policy Review Freedom Camping Policy Review Ruapehu Bylaw Proposal Invoke and replace: Animal Control Bylaw 2012, Public Places Bylaw 2012, Public Health and Safety Bylaw 2013. 1
Chat to Us! Council is currently reviewing and proposing amendments to a few of our important documents. We are seeking your feedback on those amendments. The documents are: 1. The Ruapehu Bylaw (a consolidation of the Public Health & Safety Bylaw, Public Places Bylaw & Animal Control Bylaw) 2. A revised Local Alcohol Policy 3. A revised Dog Control Policy 4. A revised Freedom Camping Policy It s a lot of information to take in so we have broken this booklet down into 4 simple sections. Each section is a summary of the purpose of the document and the proposed amendments. A full Statement of Proposal has been prepared for each document that we want feedback on. A Statement of Proposal contains a copy of the draft (reviewed) policy/bylaw, as well as information about proposed changes to the policy or bylaw, the review process, and how to give your feedback to Council The four Statements of Proposal can be collected from any Council office or accessed through the Council website. You can send us your feedback between Monday 28 August until Friday 6 October. How do I have my say? Online: By email : www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/our-council/consultation-and-communityengagement/pages/default.aspx Consultation@ruapehudc.govt.nz Book a visit with one of us at one of our offices: Taumarunui, Huia Street, Taumarunui Ohakune, Ayr Street Raetihi, Seddon Street By post: Freepost 492, Bylaw and Policy Reviews,, Private Bag 1001, Taumarunui 3946. 2
Local Alcohol Policy 2017 Review Draft The purpose of the Ruapehu Local Alcohol Policy is to set guidelines that ensure that 1. The sale, supply, and consumption of alcohol should be undertaken safely and responsibly and 2. The harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol should be minimised. The Statement of Proposal for the Local Alcohol Policy review 2017 explains more about the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, the different types of licences for selling alcohol and, and RDC s policy. Here are some of the proposed amendments to the policy as a result of the 2017 review. PROPOSED CHANGE To reduce Waimarino-Waiouru Ward and National Park Ward s On Licence trading hours from 3am to 2am. To increase Taumarunui-Ohura Ward s On-Licence trading hours from 1am to 2am To increase the district wide trading hours for those who hold Club Licences from 1am to 2am. There are to be no more than three Off Licences in the Ohura Ward of the Ruapehu District. There are to be no more than nine Off Licences in the Taumarunui Ward of the Ruapehu District There are to be no more than three Off Licences in the National Park Ward of the Ruapehu District There are to be no more than seven Off Licences in the Waimarino-Waiouru Ward of the Ruapehu District. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN That businesses holding On Licences in these wards would have to close and cease serving alcohol at 2am as opposed to the current 3am That businesses holding On Licences in these wards would have to close and cease serving alcohol at 2am as opposed to the current 1am That businesses holding Club Licences would have to close and cease serving alcohol at 2am as opposed to the current 1am. There are currently 2 Off Licence holders in this Ward. It this Ward at 3. There are currently 9 Off Licence holders in this Ward. this Ward at 9. There are currently 2 Off Licence holders in this Ward. this Ward at 3. There are currently 7 Off Licence holders in this Ward. this Ward at 7. The Local Alcohol Policy Statement of Proposal can be collected from any Council office or accessed through the Council website. 3
Freedom Camping Policy (2017 Review Draft) RDC s Freedom Camping Policy states Council s expectations of visitors who choose to freedom camp in the Ruapehu District. It s pretty simple, really. Those expectations are: 1. Self-contained vehicles only. No tents, retrofitted vehicles, or anything else that isn t properly fitted to contain three days worth of all forms of human waste. 2. Freedom Campers must treat their campsites and other people with respect 3. They are welcome to stay for three nights before they need to move on to a new location 4. No camping in areas where No Camping or Overnight Parking signs are displayed (Note that Council doesn t make rules for Conservation Reserve) The policy also contains information about where freedom campers can dispose of both solid and grey waste. Most of the changes to the Freedom Camping Policy are cosmetic, the intent has not changed. The only updates proposed in the 2017 review of the Freedom Camping Policy are to emphasise the existing position. Summary of Proposed Changes The description of prohibited areas in Schedule 1 All areas where No Camping or Overnight Parking signs are displayed has been modified. On the river side of or on top of stopbanks in the district removed. Defines prohibited areas better. Stopbanks in the Ruapehu district are owned by various parties (private, RDC, Horizons, road reserve). Council can only manage those that are under its jurisdiction (the local authority area ) therefore it cannot prohibit access to many of them. Also, vehicle access to stopbanks in the district is virtually impossible. For these reasons, it is practical to remove the prohibition about stopbanks. Freedom camping is prohibited in all domains and recreational and scenic reserves in Ruapehu, with the exception of Ruatiti Domain. The Statement of Proposal for the Freedom Camping Policy review 2017 explains more about the Freedom Camping Act 2011, RDC s policy and review amendments. The Freedom Camping Policy Statement of Proposal can be collected from any Council office or accessed through the Council website. 4
Dog Control Policy (2017 Review Draft) The purpose of the Dog Control Policy is to: promote responsible dog ownership for the enhancement and protection of the Ruapehu community, identify the obligations of dog owners in both public and private places, identify the dog leashed and unleashed areas, and prohibited and exercise areas within the Ruapehu District. comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996 The 2017 policy review has resulted in some proposed changes to the policy and suggested changes to the dog control areas across the district (prohibited, leashed and exercise areas). These changes are intended to enhance the community s confidence that our dogs are happy and safe for others to be around. Some of the notable changes are to do with the neutering of menacing dogs, and requiring your neighbour s approval to keep more than two dogs. There are also suggested changes to dog control areas for almost all of the townships in the District. We need to know what you think about these suggestions! For more information see the Statement of Proposal. The Dog Control Policy Statement of Proposal can be collected from any Council office or accessed through the Council website. 5
The Ruapehu Bylaw (2017 Draft) Instead of having 3 separate bylaws RDC is proposing to consolidate them all into a single bylaw called The Ruapehu Bylaw. This is to create a one stop shop for all bylaws that relate to Public Health and Safety, Public Places and Animal Control. As well as hard copies, Council has also created a digital version of the Ruapehu Bylaw on the RDC website so that users can easily search for the topics that interest them. You can find The Ruapehu Bylaw online by visiting Council s website at www.ruapehudc.govt.nz Summary of Proposed Changes Nature of proposed change Reason for change Ruapehu Bylaw draft Removal of the Fires in the Open Air section from what was the Public Health and Safety Bylaw, and any other references to fires in public spaces Legal requirement. As of 1 July 2017 Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) are responsible for the management and enforcement of any matters related to fires in public places (see the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, Part 2) No reference to fires in open air All Ruapehu food businesses are to obtain a food grading certificate by 30 November 2018. Inclusion of signage rules from the District Plan Alcohol ban areas rules for these areas individual for each town rather than district wide rules Dog areas rules for prohibited/ leashed/exercise updated and open to change with community feedback This is an update of the Food Safety section in the previous bylaw, based on the new Food Act 2014. Rules around signage usually sit within the District Plan, which means the rules are enforced under the Resource Management Act (RMA). However enforcement action under the RMA is complex, time consuming and expensive. The Bylaw provisions are aimed at making enforcement of sign controls quicker, reducing the admin involved for both the applicant and Council staff, as well as allowing non-complying signs to be quickly removed Different communities may have different feelings about where they do and don t want to prohibit alcohol use in their public spaces. Different communities may have different feelings about where they do and don t want dogs in their public spaces. Section 23 and Schedule 8: Food Grading Section 17 and Schedule 7: Signage Schedule 5: Alcohol Ban Areas contains a map for each town/ settlement specifying prohibited areas for that community. Schedule 9: Designated Dog Areas contains a map for each town/settlement specifying suggestions for prohibited, leashed and exercise areas for that community. The Ruapehu Bylaw Statement of Proposal can be collected from any Council office or accessed through the Council website. 6