By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council is calling on dog-owning residents of the region to help guide a 10-year People and Dogs in Parks Plan, which will set out future planning for dogs owners and their access to public open space.
It will the first plan of its kind for Yarra Ranges Council, helping to provide a standardised approach to planning and create provisions for off-leash areas.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Sophie Todorov said that Council played a key role in the planning and provision of dog off-leash areas for the community.
“We know how important dogs are to their owners, they’re considered part of the family and provide companionship, encourage exercise and support mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
“It’s because of this that we need to ensure that we have the space and infrastructure for residents and their dogs not just for now, but for the future given the expected population growth in Yarra Ranges,”
“As always it’s about balancing the needs for dogs in open space, as well as the needs of the broader community, so we’re really open to hearing what’s working, and what could be improved in future for our dog friendly areas.”
Initial engagement will help Yarra Ranges Council to create a draft plan, which will be published for further engagement from the community before a revised plan can be adopted by the council.
Nicole Murray is the president of Yarra Ranges Dogs (YaRD), a social dog walking group associated with Wesburn Park with about 400 members, and said they are happy that the council is looking into dogs and parks and that they are formulating a plan for off lead dog parks.
“We urge all dog owners to fill in the survey, contributing ideas about what they would like to see in their own local park, every area is different and will have different requirements regarding population and land use,” she said.
“There are a number of dog parks in the built-up areas of the council hinterland however very few in the Upper Yarra and I would hope the Dog Park Planning Team would understand and even seek to maintain fairness in local park access for all residents across the Yarra Valley,”
“We look forwarding to working with the council on this plan.”
Community members have until Thursday 8 August to provide feedback.
Ms Murray said they would like to see more off-lead dog parks, of different calibres, available to dog walkers in this area.
“Our members have expressed the desire for various things over the years including fencing (to protect both dogs and walkers from the cars and other stakeholders), access to seating and pathways, structures (providing shade) and water,” she said.
“Whilst Council seeks to avoid fencing off dedicated user group areas, this already happens for other activities such as equestrian, mountain biking, playgrounds and ball sports, an off-lead dog park, by name, is already single use and fencing such an area will not change that fact,”
“It does, however, protect dogs from external influences such as vehicles, horses, bikes and the odd ball flying into the space, not to mention the occasional kangaroo or wallaby bouncing through and more recently, visiting deer.”
For more information and to have your say, visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/dogs-parks.
