Hutt City Council is seeking community feedback until 5pm, 1 March 2024, on proposed changes to dog access in parts of the Eastern Bays to safeguard seabirds from potential harm.
Four new Bird Protection Areas (BPAs) in the Eastern Bays are required under consent conditions for Tupua Horo Nuku (Eastern Bays Shared Path), to protect native seabirds that may be displaced during and following construction of the seawall and shared path.
To protect the birds effectively, changes are being proposed within Hutt City Council’s Dog Control Bylaw to restrict dog access in and around these areas.
As part of the consent conditions of the project, we must propose to exclude dogs at all times from defined foreshore and beach areas in Sorrento Bay, and the beach and foreshore alongside the Bishop Park BPA. In the case of Bishop Park there are additional consent conditions that are triggered if dogs are not excluded (see FAQs).
To enhance the protection for these native bird species, we are also proposing to exclude dogs at all times from the BPAs at Bishop Park, Whiorau Reserve and HW Shortt Park and want to hear your suggestions relating to dog access in these areas. The four Bird Protection Areas (see Maps) are:
- The rocky seashore along Sorrento Bay;
- Whiorau Reserve;
- The dune area next to CL Bishop Park; and
- The dune area next to HW Shortt Park.
You can find all relevant information on this page. We will update our FAQs as we receive new questions. You can provide your feedback by completing the submission form below (between 1 February and 1 March 2024) or by posting a submission to Hutt City Council, Private Bag 31-912, Lower Hutt 5040.
Consultation closes at 5pm, 1 March 2024.