Siobhan Boffey with Cubby. The City of Stirling wants more feedback on a plan to build fenced dog exercise areas.
Camera IconSiobhan Boffey with Cubby. The City of Stirling wants more feedback on a plan to build fenced dog exercise areas. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie        d457762

City of Stirling ask for more feedback on dog park plans

Kate LeaverStirling Times

The City opened two fenced dog parks at Charles Riley Memorial Reserve and Inglewood oval that “foster community spirit and encourage owners to socialise”, according to the City.

The plan also aims to reduce conflict between dog owners and sports teams by having a separate off-leash area.

Crs Andrew Guilfoyle and Keith Sargent said more consultation was needed for individual cases.

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“There needs to be more public consultation provided to a wider area for all groups and users to have their say,” Cr Sargent said.

“Following public consultation for each planned location the matter needs to be referred back to council on the condition that 50 per cent or more people object to it.”

The City will also place signs at each reserve outlining the plan and advertise it within a 500m radius.

Poochpower representative Siobhan Boffey said the group thanked the council and Crs Sargent and Guilfoyle for going out for more feedback.

“Further consultation is very important to get this strategy right, especially to ensure that council selects the most appropriate locations and to ensure that fenced dog parks are well managed,” she said.

“Poochpower’s members do not consider that Lake Gwelup or Carine Open Space are suited to fenced dog parks and the focus at these reserves should continue to be on responsible off leash dog walking.

“When consultation begins, Poochpower will encourage dog lovers to make suggestions for better locations and good ideas how to manage these new facilities.”

Friends of Lake Gwelup President Spider Hart said the group was pushing for an on-leash only policy for bushland areas but did not support a dog park at the reserve.

“We do not accept that there is any real value of a dog park, when the dogs already have unrestrained total access of the reserve,” he said.