Dog owners back Town of Victoria Park plan for Lathlain-Carlisle Bowling Club site

A GROUP of dog owners are backing the Town of Victoria Park’s plan to upgrade the old Lathlain-Carlisle Bowling Club site.

The council’s concept plan would see passive and active dog exercise areas at the site, where there is currently an enclosed fenced area.

The Southern Gazette previously reported on the Victoria Park Urban Tree Network’s push for an urban forest to be created at the site.

Beckenham resident Melissa Mitchell is among the dog owners who travel from around the Perth to use the site and are backing the council’s plan.

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“We have no arguments with it, we would like to see some lighting at the site though,” she said.

“If you come here between 5pm and 5.30pm, there are around 20 to 30 people; it’s like Grand Central Station.

“The benefit of an enclosed fenced is when you have dogs off-lead and the dogs have problems with recall, they can’t get out of control.”

Ms Mitchell said there were many benefits to having upgraded facilities at the site.

“You can meet people through having dogs and it creates a community of people,” she said.

“This site is not advertised but it’s still popular because there aren’t many enclosed areas like it around Perth.

“I don’t think the expansion of the site would be a negative and it would bring people closer.

“I think you have to satisfy everyone and there are people who have moved into the area who have made friends through this park.

“It’s also important for dogs to become socialised and they become less of a threat to humans; it is becoming harder to exercise dogs with yards getting smaller.”

Carlisle resident Dee Montgomery, whose property is close to the site, said she was concerned by the proposal.

“My main concern is about the amount of people who will come to the park,” she said.

“Where are they going to park? The street is already full as it is.”

Victoria Park resident Peter May said the fenced area allowed him to exercise his greyhound.

“I think some other groups would like to see the area become reduced in size but you need to cater for all groups,” he said.