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Off-Leash Dog Area Trials

Consultation Overview

online community engagement
The City of Canada Bay is embarking on building a City-wide plan for our canine companions. The first step is to trial new off-leash dog areas in areas where there are no existing or under-represented off-leash dog areas.

Off-leash dog area trials were undertaken from Wednesday, 24 October to Tuesday, 20 November at the following parks:
> Kendall Reserve, Kendall Street, Cabarita
> Timbrell Park, Henley Marine Drive, Five Dock
> King George V Park, Concord Road, Rhodes
> Lower Phoenix Park, Shoreline Drive, Rhodes

Community engagement on the trials and provision of off-leash dog areas was undertaken from 24 October to 20 November. Thank you to all the community members who participated.

Who's Listening

  • Mayor Angelo Tsirekas
    Council is committed to supporting our community via sound investment and initiatives.

Off-Leash Trial Locations

FAQS

Of the 72 parks and reserves in the City of Canada Bay, there are currently 17 off-leash dog areas:
 
Designated unrestricted off-leash areas
  • Battersea Park (Concord end of the park) - Battersea Street, Abbotsford
  • Charles Heath Reserve - Queens Road, Five Dock
  • Cintra Park - Lyons Road West, Canada Bay
  • Drummoyne Park (above Drummoyne Oval) - Bayswater Street, Drummoyne
  • Five Dock Park (near Five Dock Skatepark) - Ingham Avenue, Five Dock
  • Lysaght Park (on Five Dock Bay) - Bibby Street, Chiswick
  • Majors Bay Reserve - Nullawarra Avenue, Concord
  • Powells Creek Reserve - Conway Avenue, North Strathfield
  • St Georges Crescent Reserve (opposite Sailing Club) - St Georges Crescent, Drummoyne
  • Timbrell Park (western end, beyond the children's play area) - Henley Marine Drive, Five Dock
  • Storey Park (beside RSL Bowling Club) - McKinnon Avenue (off Lyons Road), Five Dock.
 
 
Designated off-leash areas before 9am and after 5pm only
  • Brett Park - (the flat area) - Sisters Crescent, Drummoyne
  • Halliday Park - (on Hen & Chicken Bay) - Udall Avenue, Five Dock
  • Queen Victoria Reserve - Queen Victoria Street, Drummoyne. NB: weekends only before 9am (not after 5pm)
  • Taplin Park - (western end near Thompson St) - End of Thompson Street, Drummoyne
  • McIlwaine Park - Concord Rd, Rhodes (northern end of park)
  • Mill Park - Shoreline Drive, Rhodes - (north of the outdoor fitness station).
 
Currently there are approximately 15,000 dogs within the city of Canada Bay, representing 41% of all households (The national average is 38%).
Under section 14 of the Companion Animals Act (1998), Dogs are prohibited in the following places (whether or not they are leashed or otherwise controlled):
  • Children’s play areas (meaning any public place, or part of a public place, that is within 10 metres of any playing apparatus provided in that public place or part for the use of children).
  • Food preparation/consumption areas (meaning any public place, or part of a public place, that is within 10 metres of any apparatus provided in that public place or part for the preparation of food for human consumption or for the consumption of food by humans).
  • Recreation areas where dogs are prohibited (meaning any public place, or part of a public place, provided or set apart by a local authority for public recreation or the playing of organised games and in which the local authority has ordered that dogs are prohibited and in which, or near the boundaries of which, there are conspicuously exhibited by the local authority at reasonable intervals notices to the effect that dogs are prohibited in or on that public place or part).
  • Public bathing areas where dogs are prohibited (meaning any public place or any part of a public place that is used for or in conjunction with public bathing or public recreation (including a beach), in which the local authority has ordered that dogs are prohibited and in which, or near the boundaries of which, there are conspicuously exhibited by the local authority at reasonable intervals notices to the effect that dogs are prohibited in or on that public place).
  • School grounds (meaning any property occupied or used for a purpose connected with the conduct of a government school or non-government school under the Education Act 1990. other than any property used for a residence or the curtilage of a residence).
  • Child care centres (meaning any property occupied or used for a purpose connected with the conduct of a child care service as defined in the Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987, other than any property used for a residence or the curtilage of a residence).
  • Shopping areas where dogs are prohibited (meaning a shopping arcade or shopping complex, including any part of it that is used by the public for parking or access to shops, in which or part of which the local authority has ordered that dogs are prohibited and in which, or near the boundaries of which, there are conspicuously exhibited by the local authority at reasonable intervals notices to the effect that dogs are prohibited there). This paragraph does not apply to any shop or part of a shop.
  • Wildlife protection areas (meaning any public place or any part of a public place set apart by the local authority for the protection of wildlife and in which the local authority has ordered that dogs are prohibited for the purposes of the protection of wildlife and in which, or near the boundaries of which, there are conspicuously exhibited by the local authority at reasonable intervals notices to the effect that dogs are prohibited in or on that public place).
  • Safe play space for dogs to run off-leash
  • Provides both dogs and their owners opportunities to exercise and socialise
  • Encourages responsible behaviour by owners and their dogs through clear rules
  • Provides another avenue to create community connections enabling people to get to know other people with a common interest
  • Dog owners may benefit from the advice and peer support re: problems they might have with their dogs
  • Dogs also teach and learn from one another
  • Offers not only a social avenue, but also a safer way for those with mobility limitation, particularly who find it very difficult to walk, to exercise their dog
Yes:
  • Examples of existing off-leash dog areas with enclosed playgrounds include Battersea Park, Brett Park, Drummoyne Park, Halliday Park, Taplin Park and Timbrell Park
  • Examples of existing off-leash dog areas co-sharing with sports field use include Five Dock Park, Lysaght Park, Powells Creek Reserve and Taplin Park
The trials are in areas where there are no existing or under-represented off-leash dog areas and the community have requested additional off-leash dog areas.
 
 
Rhodes: Lower Phoenix Park and King George V Park
Rhodes currently includes two restricted off-leash dog areas at McIlwaine Park and Mill Park, how there is a community need for more and unrestricted areas. Residential dwellings in Rhodes predominately do not have access to a backyard: 94.6% of dwellings are apartments with another 1.7% townhouses/semi-detached, so good access to community open space for both people and their dogs is essential. Over the five years to June 2018, Rhodes recorded the second highest number new dog s micro-chipped (939) within the City of Canada Bay.
 
 
Cabarita: Kendall Reserve
There are no existing off-leash dog areas on the Cabarita, Breakfast Point and Mortlake peninsula. Over 58% of dwellings in Cabarita are either apartments or townhouses with limited access to private outdoor space large enough to exercise a dog. Over the five years to June 2018, this peninsula recorded 473 new dogs micro-chipped.
 
 
Five Dock: Timbrell Park
There are five existing off-leash dog areas located in Five Dock: Charles Heath Reserve; Halliday Park; Five Dock Park; Storey Park; and, Timbrell Park (west of the playground). Community members have informed Council that using the eastern side (sport fields) of the park would be more preferable for dog exercise as it is larger and more protected from Henley Marine Drive. Over the five years to June 2018, Five Dock recorded 758 new dogs micro-chipped.
Yes:
  • Kendall Reserve: co-sharing with an established playground
  • Timbrell Park: co-sharing with sporting groups, schools and personal trainers
Doggy waste bins and bags.
Council would investigate including permanent infrastructure such as water fountains, bins and possibly fencing in the 2019/2020 capital works program.
Maltese
Male – 58%
  1. Maltese - 14%
  2. Poodle (Toy) - 13%
  3. Bichon Frise - 7%
  4. Pomeranian - 6%
  5. Shih Tzu - 4%
  1. Maltese - 19%
  2. Cavoodle - 6%
  3. Poodle (Toy) - 6%
  4. Pomeranian - 5%
  5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - 5%
  1. Maltese - 11%
  2. Jack Russell Terrier - 6%
  3. Labrador Retriever - 5%
  4. Bull Terrier (Staffordshire) - 4%
  5. Pomeranian - 4%
Share your opinions on the suitability of this park, what elements make great off-leash dog areas, and how we can work together to ensure our passive open spaces are inclusive for all residents:
  • Complete the online survey
  • Post and vote on ideas
  • In-park listening posts
    • Sunday, 28 October 3:30-5:30pm at Lower Phoenix Park
    • Sunday, 4 November 3:30-5:30pm at Kendall Reserve
    • Friday, 9 November 4-6pm at Timbrell Park
    • Thursday, 15 November 5-7pm at King George V Park
  • Doggy Day Out on Sunday, 18 November 9.30am - 12pm at Five Dock Park
  • Email parksupgrade@canadabay.nsw.gov.au
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