Dog ban lifted at Kings Forest

Developer Peter van Lieshout had called for the dog ban at Kings Forest to be scrapped.

John Gass TWE200112dogs

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TWEED Shire councillors have today decided to allow dogs at a Kings Forest development.

Councillors have been debating the ban at this morning's council meeting.

The submission prepared by the council's planning officers recommended that dogs be banned from the 4500-lot Kings Forest estate, citing that policing any restrictions would be difficult with the resources available.

Cr Warren Polglase wanted the dog ban recommendation removed from the submission.

"We need to get balance between the two (development and environmental protection) and banning dogs is not the answer," Cr Polglase said.

"We considered this for a development at Banora Point but we discovered that it couldn't be policed and that it wouldn't work."

The motion to remove the ban from the submission was successful four votes to three.

Councillors Kevin Skinner, Joan van Lieshout, Cr Polglase and Phil Youngblutt voted in support of the motion to remove the ban recommendation.

Team Koala president Jenny Hayes said it was the wrong decision and council should have accepted the officers' recommendations.

"I feel encouraged by the community's response," Ms Hayes said.

"Today people have seen which councillors support our koalas."

The council is still considering the submission to the state government.