Shoalhaven City Council has voted to commit $70,000 annually to installing and maintaining off-leash dog areas.
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At the ordinary meeting on Tuesday, August 25 all but two councillors voted in favour of designating $70,000 to off-leash dog areas at the next quarterly budget review.
Originally Cr Patricia White and Michell Pakes proposed to tie the off-leash dog funds to fines collected from unregistered dogs but the CEO and councillors raised objections to 'ring-fencing' the funding.
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Cr Andrew Guile supported the intent of the motion but had concerns about linking the funding source.
"What is to stop any other community coming to us and say fines that are levied for parking in Berry should go to Berry car parking places," he said.
"I think there is a general acceptance that we do need to be resourcing these off-leash dog areas into the future."
Cr Mark Kitchener, who voted against the motion, said council had more pressing areas to fund.
"If there was enough money every councillor in this room would give every community group, everything they wanted when they wanted it - there isn't enough money and there never will be," he said.
"Given the recent disasters we've been through I can think of many things I'd put in front of funding fencing for dogs."
Against: Crs Findley, Kitchener.
For: Crs Guile, Proudfoot, Pakes, Watson, White, Wells, Alldrick, Levett, Digiglio, Gartner.