Blue Mountains City Council is encouraging residents to have their say on the trial dog off-leash areas before the community consultation period closes on Friday 15 May 2009.

A 12 month dog off-leash trial has been in place at eight sites across the Blue Mountains: Katoomba Falls; Bureau Park North Katoomba; Leura Oval; Pitt Park Wentworth Falls; the former Lawson Golf Club; Tom Hunter Park Faulconbridge; Sun Valley Reserve and Lapstone Oval.

Mayor, Cr Adam Searle said, “Council is continuing to seek community feedback on the trial dog off-leash areas by way of a survey and a new on-line community consultation forum.

All interested residents are encouraged to make a comment on the trial dog off-leash areas and complete a survey.

The comments received from residents will be used in determining the future of dog off-leash areas in the Blue Mountains.”

Residents can view information, download a survey and participate in an on-line forum on the trial dog off-leash areas at www.bangthetable.com/blue-mountains-city-council. Information and the survey is also available on Council’s website (click here to view). Hard copies of the survey are available at Council’s Katoomba and Springwood offices and local libraries.

Completed surveys should be sent by mail to:

Post?Dog Off-leash Trial Survey?Blue Mountains City Council?Locked Bag 1005?KATOOMBA NSW 2780

Fax?(02) 4780 5562

Email?council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Delivery?Council’s Springwood or Katoomba offices

Mayor Adam Searle continued, “The trial dog off-leash areas will remain in place after the community consultation period closes on the 15th May. After this time, Council will evaluate the community response to the trial and consider the options for on-going dog off-leash areas within the City.

Council would like to take this opportunity to remind dog owners that the trial dog off-leash areas are subject to time and day restrictions and that dogs must at all times be under their owners’ effective control in public, including designated dog off-leash areas.

“It is also the responsibility of dog owners to pick up their dogs faeces when in public spaces”, concluded mayor, Adam Searle.

The Blue Mountains is hosting a huge program for National Youth Week 2009 (March 28-April 5), including under 18s gigs, parent forums and family events.

Launching Youth Week in the Blue Mountains will be Youth Rock Gig for 12-17 yr olds on Saturday 28 March at the Carrington’s Baroque Room from 2:00pm till 7:00pm. Bands include Red Bee, Unknown Quantity, The Credits, Picture Perfect, O.B.P.S and Fault Of Man. This is a drug and alcohol free event - fully supervised by youth workers and security staff. Tickets are $5 with limited ticket sales from Upper Mountains Youth Centre. Contact Wendy on (02) 4782 2875. Use of the venue has been kindly donated by the Carrington Hotel.

The Winmalee Skate Park will be opened on Sunday 29 March at 10:30 am at Summerhayes Park . A pro skating demo by Dustin Dollan and the PD Distribution Crew will take place including a best trick competition, free skating and sausage sizzle. Contact Ryn on (02) 4780 5545.

The Run for Fun is also on Sunday 29 March at Tom Hunter Park, Faulconbridge. It’s for all runners 12 years and over who wish to become the 2K, 5K or 10K Blue Mountains Champion for 2009. Be there at 9:30am for registration - there’s a $10 entry fee. All enquiries contact Colleen on (02) 4751 5851.

The Blue Mountains Youth Mental Health Study will be launched on Wednesday 1 April 10:00am - 11:30am in the Council Chambers, Katoomba. The presentation will report on key findings of a six-month study into youth mental health service needs among Blue Mountains young people aged 12-24 years. The research is a project of Youth Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Reference Group - YMISA - for more information call Ryn on (02) 4780 5545.

Wednesday 1 April is also Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Blue Mountains Youth Accommodation and Support Service is putting on a free BBQ at Katoomba Civic Centre at 11:30am to raise awareness of the thousands of young people who are sleeping on the streets and in refuges through out NSW.

Later on Wednesday, the Blue Mountains Youth Council for 2009 will be officially welcomed the Council at a ceremony in Council Chambers.

Talks by Steve Biddulph, psychologist and author of ‘The Secret of Happy Children’, ‘Raising Boys’ and ‘Manhood’ will be held during Youth Week. The topic of raising boys will be heard on Friday 3 April at 7:30pm at the Springwood Civic Centre: simple, practical ways to help boys to grow up to be happy, positive, caring and motivated. The Secret of Happy Children on Sunday 5 April 2:00pm at Springwood Civic Centre: for parents of boys and girls aged from birth to adulthood - gives a roadmap for understanding the kind of love your child needs at which age and how to adapt yourself to be able to help them grow up with good hearts and strong backbones.??Book online at www.springwoodtalks.com Adults $20 / Concession $12 per talk, tickets also available from The Turning Page Bookshop, 134 Macquarie Rd, Springwood.

Dancing Our Culture is a workshop for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living the Mountains. NAISDA Dance College students will deliver a Traditional, Contemporary Indigenous and Hip Hop dance performance and workshop on Saturday 4 April. Interested young ATSI people can call Jo on (02) 4782 6569.

Family Music Event on Sunday 5 April at Buttenshaw Park, 2:00pm -5:00pm. Bring a picnic rug and spend the afternoon being entertained by local young musicians.

The Youth Focused Graffiti Reduction Research Project Launch offers a fresh coat of paint to anti-graffiti programs! Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST), in partnership with Council and Youth Week 2009 is undertaking a research project to identify successful graffiti reduction programs from around the world. The project will identify graffiti reduction programs which address the concerns of property owners, the general public and local and state governments by reducing undesirable graffiti, while taking into account the artistic and social needs of young people.

Our Place - Urban Changes photographic workshops will be held in Lawson and Blackheath conducted by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre and Mid Mountains Youth Centre. Young people will learn photographic skills, and use them to document their responses to their villages and developments there. For more information contact Cheryl on (02) 4782 4657.

Click here to view the Youth Week 2009 program.