Council wanting to ensure its parks, reserves and sports grounds fun places for everyone
With the start of the winter sports season Council will be out-and-about around Ruapehu sports grounds over the up-coming weekends helping to ensure that they are safe, fun places for everybody.
Group Manager Community Services Margaret Hawthorne said that officers will be out on patrol and when required reminding people of the rules and regulations and expectations of personal behaviour in a public place.
Council officers aren't the fun police' and we won't be looking to hand out tickets or fines but we do want to help ensure that everybody feels safe and secure on our parks, reserves and sports grounds, she said.
People should note that all sports grounds are dog free zones even for dogs on a lead.
This will include such things as reminding people about dog no-go areas and the need to have their dog under control at all times where they are allowed, asking people to obey parking rules, and highlighting that Ruapehu sports grounds are voluntary no-smoking areas.
Council has also had some recent complaints about a new homemade whip craze' that some local kids are into.
We have had calls about kids walking around with them at local sports grounds which many people have found unsettling.
Again, Council will not be handing out tickets but we will be telling the kids that behaviour of that sort is a no-go' on any Council owned property or in any other public space.
Council's Public Places Bylaw has health and safety requirements that considers issues such as these a public nuisance.
If Council officers feel there is any imminent danger to the public from any bad behaviour they are empowered to confiscate whips, etc.
Parents should take note however that the Police may view whips and things as offensive weapons which is another issue altogether.
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