A “dog park” could help prevent clashes between pet-owners and other users of public spaces such as ovals, according to a Surf Coast councillor.
David Bell raised the mitigation potential as Surf Coast Shire began “just testing the water” about whether to develop a fenced off-leash area at Torquay.
The shire was seeking “input” on how many dog-owners would use such a park in a bid to determine its viability, Cr Bell said.
“We need to explore whether a park might be viable alongside designated off-leash and time-share zones.
“Dog parks can provide a great alternative to use of ovals and open spaces where conflicts between dogs and other users can be an issue.
“The benefits of dog parks are well-documented in providing great social and exercise outcomes for owners as well as their pets, and helping produce better adjusted dogs.”
Council had yet to begin any “formal” consultations or planning on a dog park, the shire said.
Surf Coast Shire has one of Australia’s highest rate of dog ownership, with the municipality registering around 5400 dogs and cats in 2017.
Deakin University research released earlier this year indicated that Surf Coast dog owners frequently breached walking rules, with dogs roaming off-leash 70 per cent of the time at on-leash beaches.
“We found a high level of complacency about dog behaviour, even on beaches where there had been intensive – efforts to improve public awareness about the risk that dogs posed to hooded plovers,” said Associate Professor Mike Weston said.
