Item 7.1 - Attachment 1 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
CULTURE AND LEISURE
ITEM NUMBER 12.4
SUBJECT Proposed
Additional Dog Off-Leash Areas
REFERENCE F2005/00856 - D01074043
REPORT OF Supervisor Open Space
PURPOSE: To recommend that Further, to seek Council
endorsement to place proposals for two additional off-leash areas at |
(a) That Council approve additional
dog leash free areas at (b) That
the above sites be provided with appropriate disposal facilities for dog
faeces and be signposted accordingly. (c) That
Council adopt two additional dog
leash free sites at (d) Further, that following the public
exhibition period a further report regarding the sites be presented to
Council for consideration. |
BACKGROUND
1. The Companion Animals Act 1998, was
established to encourage responsible animal ownership and management. The Act
placed additional responsibilities on councils to provide dog off-leash areas.
In response to this Act, Council established off-leash areas in three
locations;
a. Cowells Lane Reserve Basin (Ermington)
b. McCoy Park Basin (Toongabbie)
c. Wolseley Street Reserve (Guildford)
2. A report regarding the provision of
additional dog leash free areas was presented to Council in July 2008. In
summary the report recommended that due to the significant social and health
benefits to dogs and their owners of leash free areas, that Council place on
public exhibition a proposal to establish four additional sites at;
a. Barnett Park (Winston Hills)
b. Dan Mahoney Reserve (North Parramatta)
c. Darcy Road Reserve (Westmead)
d. George Kendall Riverside Park (Ermington).
3. The original Council officer’s
report can be found at Attachment 1. The
subsequent Council resolution can be found at Attachment 2.
ISSUES/OPTIONS/CONSEQUENCES
Publicly Exhibited Sites
4. Council
resolved on the 28 July 2008 to place on public exhibition a proposal
for four (4) additional dog leash free areas at Barnett Park (Winston Hills),
Dan Mahoney Reserve (North Parramatta), Darcy Road Reserve (Westmead) and
George Kendall Riverside Park (Ermington).
5. The public exhibition took
place between the 13 August and
6. An analysis of submissions indicated strong support for dog
off-leash areas at Dan Mahoney Reserve (62%) and
a. Current lack of local accessible off-leash
areas
b. Dog socialisation and exercise opportunities
c. Owner socialisation and exercise
opportunities
7. However, local
residents are generally unsupportive of the Darcy Road Reserve proposal
(87.5%). The main issues raised
against the proposal included:
a. Lack of owner responsibility / control
b. Dogs dangerous for children / other park
users
c. Dog Noise
d. Dog faeces
e. Fencing
On the basis of these responses, officers are
recommending against proceeding with the leash free area at this site.
8. A similar number of both supportive (4) and unsupportive (5) submissions
were received in relation to the
Fencing
9. Fencing of dog off-leash areas was raised in a number of
submissions, particularly where they are to be located adjacent to a busy road.
In consideration of the characteristics of each site and the substantial cost
of fencing, the following is recommended for the proposed off-leash areas:
a. Dan
Mahoney Reserve – Currently fully fenced
b. George
Kendall Riverside Park – No fencing required
c. Barnett
Park – Partial fencing (Barnett Road & Glasgow Streets)
The
partial fencing of
10. Council resolved on the
I. At
least three bins for placement of dog faeces;
II. Ordinance
signs including advice that savage dogs should not be unleashed;
III. Plastic
bags for collection of dog faeces.”
Installing
these facilities at the three proposed sites will require a total of nine (9)
bins at approximately $100 each, plus installation. In addition, Council would
be required to install three regulatory signs per site, with an overall
estimated total cost of $1,800 for nine (9) signs. These costs can be funded from the Parks
Improvement Capital Works budget. Other associated minor costs to be incurred
would include the maintenance of rubbish receptacles and the restocking of
plastic bags for the collection of dog faeces. These costs will be funded from
the City Operations Cleansing and Parks Maintenance operational budgets as well
as the Open Space Parks Improvement budget.
Proposed Additional Sites
11. On the 28 July Council resolved that “staff examine options for additional dog leash free areas in Harris
Park,
12.
13. It was also resolved by Council on the
14. On the
15. Council also resolved on the
16. In
relation to sandy dog urinals (also called ‘pooch patches’), Council officers
have contacted Wyong and Warringah Councils, who have trialled the use of these
facilities at their dog off-leash areas. They consist of a patch of sand with a
central post provided within the off-leash area. The sand and post encourage
the dogs to defecate (Refer Attachment 7). Dog owners can then dispose
of the faeces in the bins provided nearby. However, feedback received from both
Wyong and Warringah indicated a varying level of success, and did not recommend
the use of them due to a number of problems associated with their provision,
including vandalism and children using the area as a sandpit.
CONSULTATION
& TIMING
17. Community consultation has been an important component in the
proposed establishment of additional dog off-leash areas. Council has promoted
an open, transparent approach, providing opportunities for all interest groups
and members of the community to contribute comments and to discuss specific
issues.
18. The proposal was placed on public exhibition at Council’s
administration building, libraries and website from
19. During the public exhibition period, 48 submissions were received
from local residents and relevant organisations regarding the four proposed dog
leash-free areas. All the written submissions have been reviewed, an assessment
made of the issues and the level of support for each of the proposed off-leash
locations.
20. If approval is
granted to proceed with the public exhibition of the two (2) additional
locations, letters will be
forwarded to the local residents surrounding the two proposed additional
off-leash sites, inviting them to comment. Information will also be displayed
at Council libraries, posted on the Council website and temporary notification
signs erected in all of the proposed reserve locations. The results of the
public consultation will then be provided in a further report to Council.
James Smallhorn
Supervisor Open Space
28 July Council Report - Additional Dog
Leash Free Areas |
3 Pages |
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Council Minute - Additional Dog Leash Free
Areas |
1 Page |
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Dog Off-Leash Submission Summary Graph |
1 Page |
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Map of Proposed Scout Memorial Park Dog
Off-Leash Area |
1 Page |
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Petition requesting Dog Off-Leash area at |
5 Pages |
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Map of Proposed |
1 Page |
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Pooch Patch Example Photos |
1 Page |
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Dog Off-Leash Area Public Exhibition
Display Poster |
1 Page |
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REFERENCE MATERIAL
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
CULTURE AND LEISURE
ITEM NUMBER 12.1
SUBJECT Additional Dog
Leash Free Areas
REFERENCE F2005/00856 - D00971113
REPORT OF Supervisor Open Space
PURPOSE: To seek Council's endorsement
to place a proposal for four additional dog leash free areas on public
exhibition. The proposed new sites are at: Dan Mahoney Reserve, |
RECOMMENDATION (a) That Council adopt the four additional dog leash free
sites identified in this report for the purpose of public exhibition. (b) That if no objections are received during the public
exhibition period, to any of the proposed dog leash free areas, then the
sites be designated as a leash free area and signposted appropriately. (c) Further, that
if objections are received during the
public exhibition period a further report regarding that site be presented to
Council for consideration. |
BACKGROUND
1. In 1998 the NSW Parliament passed the Companion Animals Act,
herein referred to as the Act, to encourage responsible animal ownership and
management. It provided for the identification and registration of Companion
Animals (dogs, cats) and defines certain duties and responsibilities of owners.
2. The Act also placed additional responsibilities on Council who
were statutorily required to provide at least one (1) dog off-leash dog area by
i.
ii.
iii. Wolseley Street Reserve (
ISSUES/OPTIONS/CONSEQUENCES
3. Companion
animals, such as cats and dogs, have significant social and health benefits for
their owners. Off-leash exercise is beneficial to the welfare of dogs and may
reduce incidences of nuisance behaviour. In addition to dog exercise, off-leash
parks also provide social opportunities for dog owners, increasing community
participation and interaction.
4. Increasing residential densities
throughout metropolitan
5. Council’s Open Space Plan (2004) recognises the importance of
dog leash free areas, however identified the existing sites as being of poor
quality. It recommended that appropriate consideration be given to the needs of
companion animals and their owners.
6. Council was successful in obtaining a 2006/7 NSW Sport and
Recreation Capital Assistance Grant to establish an off-leash area in Old
Saleyards Reserve,
7. The
i. Darcy Road Reserve - Wentworthville
The area on the eastern side of the
fenced water canal is a suitable leash-free area as it provides an enclosed
grassed area with shade trees and defined boundaries. Fencing would be required at the
ii. George Kendall Riverside Park (Eastern Area) – Ermington
The large expanse of undulating open space on the eastern
side of
iii.
This area of the LGA was identified as having a large number
of residents who regularly exercise their dogs.
8. Council would be required to install at
least tow bins per site for the disposal of dog faeces. This a total of six
bins at $100 each, plus installation. In addition, Council would be required to
install three signs per site, with an overall estimated total cost of $1,350.
The total fencing cost is estimated at $6,000. These costs can be absorbed from
the existing Parks Improvement Capital Works budget. Other associated costs to
be incurred would include the maintenance of rubbish receptacles.
CONSULTATION
& TIMING
9. If approval is
granted to proceed to public exhibition letters will be forwarded to relevant Park
Committees and residents in areas surrounding the four proposed additional
off-leash sites, inviting them to comment. Information will also be displayed
at Council libraries and posted on the Council’s website.
10. If
any objections are received during the public exhibition period in relation to
one of the proposed sites then a further report will be presented to council.
However if no objections are received the areas will be signposted
appropriately.
James Smallhorn
Supervisor
– Open Space
LGA Dog Off-Leash Comparisons |
1 Page |
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Dan Mahoney Reserve Off-Leash Area Location
Map |
1 Page |
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1 Page |
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1 Page |
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1 Page |
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Item 7.1 - Attachment 1 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Ordinary Council |
|
TO: Supervisor Open Space (James Smallhorn) |
|
Subject: |
Additional Dog Leash Free Areas |
Target Date: |
|
Notes: |
James
for appropriate action please. |
RESOLVED (Finn/Esber)
(a) That
Council adopt the four additional dog leash free sites identified in this
report for the purpose of public exhibition.
(b) That
if no objections are received during the public exhibition period, to any of
the proposed dog leash free areas, then the sites be designated as a leash free
area and signposted appropriately.
(c) That staff examine
options for additional dog leash free areas in Harris Park, North Granville and
South Parramatta and also enter into discussions with Parramatta Park with a
view to obtaining at least a once a week arrangement in the Park.
(d) That at each dog leash free location, the
following be installed:-
1 At least 3 bins for placement of dog faeces;
2 Ordinance signs including advice that savage dogs should not be unleashed;
3 Plastic bags for collection of dog faeces.
(e) That
if objections are received during the public exhibition period a further report
regarding that site be presented to Council for consideration.
(f) That a report be
provided which explores the options of self composting disposal units for dog
faeces and the sandy dog urinal.
(g) That any instance where a particular breed of dog
has been declared dangerous by any authority be exempted from this policy.
(h) Further, that Council officers
investigate the best method to raise awareness of owners to not permit dogs to
roam free when not in dog leash free areas.
This action sheet
has been automatically been produced by the Council Business Support Unit
using InfoCouncil, the agenda
and minutes database.
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
Item 7.1 - Attachment 1 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |
Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008 |