PAPAMOA DOG PARK SUBMISSION PROCESS DERAILED BY OBJECTION FROM ONE (1) CAT
Tauranga City Council confirms the submission was signed with a paw print and a $0 koha.
A proposed dog park on a vacant block off Parton Road in Papamoa has been pushed back another six weeks after Tauranga City Council received a formal submission of opposition from a cat.
The cat, identified in council documents only as "Mr Biscuit, ratepayer-adjacent", lodged its objection during the public consultation window that closed on the 14th. Council staff have confirmed the submission was accepted because, per the bylaw, "any resident" may submit, and nobody thought to specify the species.
Dog park campaigner Lorraine Petersen, who has been pushing for the park since 2021, said she was beyond words and then found several. "Two and a half years. Three rounds of consultation. Forty grand of consultants. And now we're held up because some bloody moggy on Gravatt Road can hold a biro between its toes. It's a piss-take."
The cat's owner, contacted via the Papamoa Residents Facebook group, declined to identify herself but said Mr Biscuit had "strong feelings about barking" and that she'd "only helped him with the spelling". She added that the submission was "his idea, mostly".
A Tauranga City Council spokesperson said the submission would be processed "in accordance with standard procedure", which involves a written response, a follow-up hearing, and — if requested — a chance for Mr Biscuit to speak. Asked whether the cat would actually attend, the spokesperson said: "That's a matter for the submitter."
The dog park remains a paddock. Mr Biscuit remains, according to neighbours, mostly indoors.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Cats and bureaucracy, bloody match made in heaven. Meanwhile, real people just want to walk their dogs. Give us a bone, Tauranga Council!
Garry (Halswell)
In my day, we would've just put up the fence and not worried about some feline sign-off. Paperwork's gone mad. Soon we'll need a form to take a breath.
MumOf3_Tauranga
Honestly, my kids are more scared of dogs than cats. Maybe Mr Biscuit's on to something?
Sandra McKenzie
@MumOf3_Tauranga Yes, but a park should cater to everyone, including us cat lovers. Just don't see why it needs delaying when it’s clearly a joke submission.
BarryBishopdale
Don't blame Mr Biscuit. Cats always know which is the dodgy kerb. Maybe he heard something about this 'dog park'.
couchgremlin
Lol, cats ruin everything.