After an emotional deputation from the owner of the dog involved, Ballina Shire Council has this morning revoked a menacing dog declaration for the kelpie Lilo, which was brought into effect following a bite in July 2022.
The dog’s owner Brad Hughes explained the context of the incident, which he said was very out of character, with the use of a highly restrictive muzzle since that time causing major problems for the dog and her owners.
Council’s ranger says he attended Lilo’s home and conducted an assessment on her behaviour and interactions, following thousands of dollars worth of training conducted by her owners.
He says he is now ‘satisfied that Lilo is well trained and has a warm welcoming nature’, noting ‘Lilo did not jump up through the visit and she allowed [him] to put a hand in her mouth to remove the toy that they were playing with.’
The ranger added, ‘It is evident that the owners have dedicated considerable time to Lilo’s training as she has matured and completed appropriate formal training and behavioural assessment.’
Cr Meehan was the only one to speak against the motion to remove the menacing dog declaration, saying he could see both sides, after having a grandchild attacked by a dog recently.
The motion to remove the menacing dog declaration was passed unanimously.
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With local government meeting practice across the state returning to confusion following the NSW Legislative Council's recent decision, Ballina Shire Council's last meeting included a lot of unanimous decisions and an argument about the remnants of the Big Scrub, in which Mayor Cadwallader used her casting vote to squash Cr Simon Chate's motion. Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Ballina Shire Council's application to increase its general income through a permanent special variation (SV) of 26.25% [in rates] over four years, from 2026-27 to 2029-30. Byron Greens members could expect to be asked to take the future of the Richmond River further south into account when choosing a candidate for next year’s state election. Local business owners in the Alstonville and Wollongbar townships are being encouraged to take the time to read through Ballina Shire Council’s draft plans, which are currently on exhibition. The Lennox Kinvara Action Group is calling for email submissions to Ballina Shire Council to stop the development of thousands of houses in a sensitive, flood-prone area, as the full scale of what's planned becomes better known.
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