Quinns Beach PS teacher Kim Hughes, Connor Hughes (Year 4), associate principal Ben Sweet and Tiana Auty (Year 7) with the new poo bag dispenser.
Camera IconQuinns Beach PS teacher Kim Hughes, Connor Hughes (Year 4), associate principal Ben Sweet and Tiana Auty (Year 7) with the new poo bag dispenser. Credit: Supplied/Emma Reeves

City gives nod for more dog poo bag dispensers

Lucy Jarvis, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

Mayor Tracey Roberts presented a motion at the March 4 meeting recommending the City install dispensers at all active open spaces, which could cost $220,800, or $960 a park.

Councillors unanimously agreed to consider it in the 2014-15 budget.

The City already provides bags at its Quinns Rocks, Yanchep and Two Rocks dog beaches, but Mrs Roberts said the council increasingly received requests and concerns from residents about dog excrement at parks.

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‘There are people in our community who don’t pick up after their dogs who cite the fact that there are no dog poo bags,’ she said.

Mrs Roberts said trials were underway at shared grounds adjacent to Quinns Rocks and Quinns Beach primary schools. Quinns Beach Primary teacher and parent Kim Hughes told the Times dog poo had been a problem on the shared ovals.

‘There was a problem with faeces everywhere,’ Mrs Hughes said.

‘I’ve had had enough of cleaning the kids’ shoes.’

Associate principal Ben Sweet said Mrs Hughes contacted the council and since the dispenser was installed, late last year they had seen an improvement.

‘We put in some formal letters to the council telling them about the hazards of the dog poo on the oval,’ Mr Sweet said.

‘Every recess or lunch time, kids were having to leap over dog poo.

‘It’s made a huge difference already (and) we are trying to make parents aware through newsletters.’