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Item 7.1 - Attachment 1
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Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008
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ITEM NUMBER 12.4
SUBJECT Proposed
Additional Dog Off-Leash Areas
REFERENCE F2005/00856 - D01074043
REPORT OF Supervisor Open Space
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PURPOSE:
To recommend that Barnett Park (Winston Hills),
Dan Mahoney Reserve (North Parramatta)
and George Kendall Riverside Park
(Ermington), be designated as dog off-leash areas.
Further, to seek Council
endorsement to place proposals for two additional off-leash areas at Burlington Memorial
Park (Northmead) and Scout Memorial
Park (Granville), on public
exhibition.
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RECOMMENDATION
(a) That Council approve additional
dog leash free areas at Barnett Park,
Dan Mahoney Reserve and George Kendall Riverside Park
(East of Spofforth Street).
(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 Burlington Memorial
Park (Northmead) and Scout Memorial
Park
(Granville) for the purpose of public exhibition.
(d) Further, that following the public
exhibition period a further report regarding the sites be presented to
Council for consideration.
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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 5 September 2008. Council received
48 submissions which have been assessed and a graph indicating the level of support for each of the four proposed
locations is provided as Attachment
3.
6. An analysis of submissions indicated strong support for dog
off-leash areas at Dan Mahoney Reserve (62%) and George Kendall Riverside Park (68%).
Overall the main issues raised in support of the proposal included:
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 Barnett Park proposal. As both the Parramatta Sport and
Recreation Plan and Council’s Animal Management officers have indicated the
strong need for an off-leash area in Winston Hills, Council officers have recommended that this
proposal proceeds.
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 Barnett
Park is costed at approximately $4,000. This cost
can be funded through the Parks Improvement Capital Works budget.
10. Council resolved on the 28 July 2008 “that at each leash free location, the following would be installed:
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, North Granville and
South Parramatta” and options have since been examined by Open
Space staff. Open space provision in
Harris Park and South Parramatta is limited, all parks within these areas are
considered unsuitable for off-leash dog use due to; size, location of other
facilities such as playgrounds and eating areas, and proximity to heritage
properties.
12. Scout Memorial Park (East
Area between water canals) in
Granville has been identified as a potential suitable location within this area
to establish an additional dog off-leash area. This park is located close to Granville CBD and provides an enclosed grassed area between
Sydney Water canals and southern residential property boundaries. This makes it
suitable for a leash-free area. A playground is found within this park but is
located on the other side of the canal thus preventing conflict developing
between play equipment and dogs. An informal cricket pitch exists within the
proposed off-leash site, however it currently receives limited use, so would be
compatible with off-lead dogs within this large grass area. An aerial photograph of Scout Memorial Park with the proposed off-leash area depicted is
found in Attachment 4.
13. It was also resolved by Council on the 28 July 2008 “that Council enter into discussions with Parramatta Park with a view to obtaining at least a
once a week arrangement in the Park”. Parramatta Park is
managed by a trust under the Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001. Accordingly,
Council has approached the Parramatta Park Trust requesting the use of an area in
the park for a dog leash-free area. The Trust is currently assessing this
proposal and will notify Council once a decision has been reached.
14. On the 13
October 2008 Council
received a petition from Mrs J O’Dowd on behalf of 35 Northmead residents requesting
that Council consider designating Burlington Memorial Park in Northmead as a dog leash-free area (Refer Attachment 5). This petition was signed by 35 local
residents who have indicated the need for a dog off-leash facility in the local
area. The park is located next
to a bus depot and provides a suitable grassed area for dogs to run leash-free.
However, fencing would be required on the Boundary Road side of the park which
is used by a large volume of buses and other traffic that use the road to avoid
the nearby busy Church Street and Cumberland Highway intersection. The cost of
fencing this park would be approximately $9,000. This funding could be
considered in the 2009/10 Open Space Capital Improvement budget. Given the
areas separation from other proposed off-lead dog areas there is a need for
such a facility in this location. Council officers therefore recommend that
this site be placed on public exhibition to enable the surrounding residents a
chance to comment on this proposal. An aerial photograph is attached depicting
the location of this proposed off-leash dog area. (Refer Attachment 6)
15. Council also resolved on the 28 July 2008 “that a report be provided
which explores the options of self composting disposal units for dog faeces and
the sandy dog urinal”. Council officers have now investigated the available self composting
disposal options and the only available products are designed for domestic use
for up to four dogs. As Council’s off-leash areas are publicly accessible, the
number of dog faeces placed within these products would exceed their capacity
and therefore they are not considered appropriate for use in open space areas.
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 Wednesday
13 August 2008 until Friday 5
September 2008 as per Attachment
8. Temporary notification signs were erected within all of the
proposed off-leash locations. Letters were also issued to relevant Park
Committees and immediate surrounding residents advising them of the proposed
dog off-leash areas.
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
Attachments:
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1
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28 July Council Report - Additional Dog
Leash Free Areas
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3 Pages
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2
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Council Minute - Additional Dog Leash Free
Areas
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1 Page
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3
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Dog Off-Leash Submission Summary Graph
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1 Page
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4
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Map of Proposed Scout Memorial Park Dog
Off-Leash Area
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1 Page
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5
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Petition requesting Dog Off-Leash area at Burlington Memorial Park
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5 Pages
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6
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Map of Proposed Burlington Memorial Park
Dog Off-Leash Area
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1 Page
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7
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Pooch Patch Example Photos
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1 Page
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8
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Dog Off-Leash Area Public Exhibition
Display Poster
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1 Page
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REFERENCE MATERIAL
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
1 December 1998. To
comply with this requirement, and given the large and dispersed nature of the
Parramatta LGA, Council established dog off-leash areas in three (3) locations,
including:
i. Cowells Lane Reserve Basin
(Ermington);
ii. McCoy Park Basin
(Toongabbie);
iii. Wolseley Street Reserve (Guildford).
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 Sydney are
resulting in less residents having access to large backyards. As such, access
to local off-leash parks for dog exercise and socialisation is becoming
increasingly important. Several Councils across Sydney have
expanded the number of off-leash areas available to residents. Parramatta was
identified as a ‘Regional City’ under
the NSW Governments Sydney Metropolitan Strategy, and a list of off-leash dog
provision provided by other ‘Regional Cities’ is shown at Attachment 1.
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, North Parramatta.
However, organised sports have recently been relocated to Old Saleyards Reserve
from nearby Dan Mahoney Reserve, as it is no longer suitable for organised
sports due to increasing ground subsidence. NSW Sport and Recreation have
approved the transfer of the grant to Dan Mahoney Reserve due to these
circumstances. The Dan Mahoney Reserve off-leash area will have a completely
fenced perimeter, additional shade, water, dog-faeces bins and seating
facilities for dog owners. (Attachment 2)
7. The Parramatta Sport
and Recreation Plan (2005) recommended that Council review and expand its
off-leash provision and identified three (3) additional sites, which include:
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 Darcy
Road, entrance due to the busy nature of
the road. (Attachment 3)
ii. George Kendall Riverside Park (Eastern Area) – Ermington
The large expanse of undulating open space on the eastern
side of Spofforth Street
(excluding Basketball and Netball courts) is suitable as a leash-free area. Its
considerable size and location away from the sporting fields and BBQ/picnic
area will prevent unwanted interaction with other park users. (Attachment 4)
iii. Barnett Park – Winston Hills
This area of the LGA was identified as having a large number
of residents who regularly exercise their dogs. Barnett Park is
considered an appropriate leash-free location due to it being a large open
grassed area with large shade trees and defined boundaries. (Attachment 5)
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
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Item 7.1 - Attachment 1
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Copy of Previous
Report considered by Council at its Council Meeting on 24 November 2008
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REFERENCE MATERIAL
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For Action
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Ordinary Council
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28/07/2008
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TO: Supervisor Open Space (James Smallhorn)
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Subject:
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Additional Dog Leash Free Areas
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Target Date:
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11/08/2008
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Notes:
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James
for appropriate action please.
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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.
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