Kelly Stratford: Far North Deputy Mayor on the horse poo bylaw consultation

Northland has a bit of a problem – a horse poo problem.  

It’s enough of an issue that a bylaw is being considered that would hold riders accountable for their animal’s droppings. 

However, riders have expressed concern over the risks of collecting the manure near busy roads.  

Far North Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford told Mike Hosking the bylaw wouldn’t impact people riding on roads, just those in public spaces like town squares.  

She said the consultation is making a mountain out of a molehill. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's look at Northland's horsepoo issue. We have a bye
law been considered that we'll hold riders accountable for their deposits.
The farm lord Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford is with us
on this Kelly.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Morning, Good morning, how are you this morning?

Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm very well. Indeed, what we're dealing with here, I'm
assuming is a lot of horses and a lot of
country roads.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Is that right?

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
We have a keeping of animals by law that we
consulted on and there was one little line in there
about packing up your horse newer in public spaces and
instead of this by law creating a lot of division
over the cats, come down to the horsepoo. Well, people

(00:41):
riding on roads. It's just in things like town squares
and public space.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Do you get a lot of people on a horse
in the town square? Because see, I spent a bit
of time my time in the country and we've got
horses out there, and the horse rides along the lane
and the horse does the business and no one expects
anyone to pick it up. It's a horse, for God's
sakeing it's the country.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
You're exactly right there. Mountain made out of a mule
mule Hill here and going through the consultation process of
a bye law is the opportunity for people to have
their voice about things that seem to be ridiculous but
aren't actually real.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
Oh, there's too much consultation, Kelly. There's too much consultation
on bollocks going on.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well, we're talking horses, not a bollocks.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
So well, no, that is true, But I just wonder
it's one of those things if you ask people were going, well,
I'll tell you what, and then they'll tell you your
story and the next thing you know, you've got far
too much consultation.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
I just can't believe that we're having this conversation about
this consultation of all the interviews that we could be doing.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, what would you like to do an interview on
Kelly participation in the local body politics? Are you standing again?

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Thanksally? I am, yep. The elections are coming up in
October and yeah, I'm enjoying myself and I feel like
I've got a lot more to give on them.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
What's the participation rate in your particular part of the world.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
I think it was sitting at around forty one percent.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Now, I mean, you should be consulting on that, shouldn't you.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, our ce has has as a KPI to increase
so to participation and engagement, and we actually had a
really good event last year explaining to people what council does.
It was called the State of the Far North, which
it lifted the lid in it made people more aware
of what councils actually do and yeah, a lot of

(02:32):
people felt more informed. So we want to see more
of that, not just and it's not about a campaign,
it's about our council making people, making making local government
more relevant for people.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Go well, I hope that right across the country more
people turn up for the election this year because I
tell you people moan a lot, but then having mine
they don't participate.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, it's certainly the best interest the vote.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
Couldn't agree more with your Kelly. My apologies for ringing
up about the Horsepool will never it will never happen again.
It will never happen again. I'll blame other people. But
you know we've had a nice chat anyway, haven't we.
We have good on You're nice to talk to you, Kelly,
Kelly Stratford Far North Deputy. Miss Sam who's in charge
of that nonsense? I don't want to see that nonsense
on the program anymore.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Please for more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live
to news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.