City of Stirling to seek more feedback on proposed fenced dog park

A $155,000 fenced dog park scheme has been delayed by the City of Stirling after public consultation revealed more community feedback was needed.

The fenced dog park plan includes fenced dog areas at five Stirling parks and reserves including Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space, Celebration Park and Robinson Reserve .

Through the public consultation process, the City received 198 responses about the plan with 73 per cent supportive, 23 per cent against the idea and 4 per cent undeterminable.

Councillor David Boothman said more consultation was needed after vandalism issues continued at Celebration Park in Balga.

“We need this item to be held over, we need to do some more work with the community before we pass this,” he said.

Northern Suburbs Training and Obedience Dog Club (based at Carine Regional Open Space) were supportive of the strategy while Friends of Lake Gwelup did not support it .

“There were also a number of respondents (18) that either incorrectly assumed fenced dog parks would eliminate the ability to exercise their dogs off leash, or considered the fenced dog parks to be part of an agenda to eventually remove the opportunity to exercise dogs off leash across the City,” the report said.

“The City maintains that the City Wide Fenced Dog Parks Implementation Strategy is intended to give residents choice regarding their use of public open space and socialising their dogs; no change to existing reserve use is proposed as a result of the installation of fenced dog parks.”

Proposed Stirling fenced dog park rollout and estimated costs over five years:

– Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space (Gwelup) -$155,000

– Celebration Park (Balga) – $80,000

– Dianella Regional Open Space (Dianella) -$150,000

– Robinson Reserve (Tuart Hill) – $95,000

– Carine Regional Open Space (Carine) – $180,000