City listens to community feedback for off-leash proposal |
The City of Sydney has approved 30 new full-time off-leash parks, with a revised proposal balancing community support and feedback.
Council now has 33 full-time off-leash parks out of the Citys 350 parks, up from three full-time and 18 which are currently off-leash on a time share basis from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
Community responses in the past week and during a two-month exhibition period have been taken on board, with Councillors recommending further investigation work on 15 park areas.
The revised proposal would see about 10 per cent of the Citys parks become off-leash. Currently only six per cent of the Citys 350 parks are off leash for parts of the day. Plans to support responsible dog owners by increasing the number of off-leash parks in the City Centre and inner city villages received widespread support with 73 per cent of 1527 submissions endorsing the proposal.
"Off-leash parks are a great opportunity for responsible pet owners. We want to encourage responsible pet ownership and promote harmonious and equitable access to public parks for all residents,"said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.
"The revised recommendation balances the needs of all park users - parents, children and dog owners. It strikes a middle ground between responding to the wide-spread support from the community - 73 per cent of whom endorsed the proposal."
"As part of our unanimously endorsed Companion Animals Policy, the City of Sydney is committed to providing locally accessible parks within a comfortable walking distance of peoples houses across the City of Sydney."
"At the same time this proposal will ensure other park users gain equitable access. Just as cars and cyclists need to share limited space on our roads, we need to ensure that all park users are able to share limited open space in the most densely populated city in Australia."
In response to community feedback Amy Street Reserve and Harold Street Reserve in Erskineville will revert to on-leash only. Paradise Park in Ultimo will also remain an on-leash park only.
The City of Sydney is committed to ensuring the Citys 350 parks are open and usable by all members of the community.
Off-leash parks in North Sydney have operated successfully for many years, with the majority of its parks permanently off-leash.
Pets can break down social isolation, bring people together and encourage exercise which makes for a better quality of life and a friendlier, livelier city
Dogs, both on and off leash, are prohibited from going within 10 metres of a playground under Section 14 of the State Government Companion Animals Act.
The Act also states off-leash dogs must always be under effective control of their owner and that one person must not have more than four dogs under their control at any one time.
To support the responsible dog ownership and use of our off-leash parks, the City will continue to offer free dog obedience training, fact sheets about animals and children, and more bins, dog tidy stations and bubblers for dogs and people in parks. While City rangers and Councils Companion Animal Officer will focus on education and responsible ownership, enforcement action will be taken by rangers if it is found that dog owners are not acting responsibly by picking up waste and having dogs under control at all times."
The proposed parks to become off-leash 24-hours a day include:
Alexandria Park, Alexandria; Perry Park, Alexandria; Beaconsfield Park, Beaconsfield; Glebe; Cook & Phillip Park, CBD; Green Park, Darlinghurst; Charles Kiernan Reserve, Darlington; Macleay Reserve, Elizabeth Bay; Harry Noble Reserve, Erskineville; Green Bans Park, Erskineville; Solander Park, Erskineville; J.V McMahon & Canal Reserve, Forest Lodge; Bicentennial Park (west of canal), Glebe; Federal Park north of the viaduct, Glebe; Foreshore Walk, Glebe; Lawrence Hargraves Reserve, Kings Cross; Munn Reserve, Millers Point; Observatory Hill Park, Millers Point; Giba Park, Pyrmont; Gibbons Street Reserve, Redfern; Southern Cross Drive Reserve, Rosebery; Tarrakan Reserve, Rosebery; Sydney Park, St Peters; Frog Hollow, Surry Hills; Harmony Park, Surry Hills; James Hilder Reserve, Surry Hills; Fig Lane Park, Ultimo; Mary Anne Street Park, Ultimo; Wentworth Park (north of the greyhound stadium), Ultimo; Waterloo Park (Mt Carmel), Waterloo; and Crown Park, Zetland.
Parks recommended for further detailed investigation and assessment include:
Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters Bay; Victoria Park, Chippendale; Beare Park, Elizabeth Bay; Bicentennial Park (east of canal), Glebe; Federal Park south of the viaduct (Glebe), Jubilee Park, Glebe; Pope Paul Reserve, Glebe; Foley Park, Glebe; Hollis Park, Newtown; Pyrmont Point Park, Pyrmont; Bannerman Crescent Reserve, Rosebery; Kimberly Grove Reserve, Rosebery; Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills; Wentworth Park (south of the greyhound stadium), Ultimo; and Ward Park, Surry Hills.
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ City listens to community feedback for off-leash proposal
➼ Pet Education
➼ Companion Animals Policy
➼ Pet Identification & Lifetime Registration
➼ Environment and Heritage Committee Monday 31 March 2008
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