New fully-enclosed dog off-leash areas were proposed by the Yarra Ranges Council after its draft plan setting the guidelines for dog parks was announced at the 12 August council meeting.
The draft People and Dogs in Parks Plan 2025 would address missing standards on these often overlooked, yet crucial and complex recreational areas for the next 10 years – now it needs the feedback from Yarra Ranges locals.
Mayor Cr Jim Child said the council heard “loud and clear” the demand from park users for fully-enclosed dog off-leash areas and thus were moving to act on the advice.
The plan proposed to implement fully-enclosed dog off-leash areas at Belgrave Lake Park, Coronation Park in Healesville, Elizabeth Bridge Reserve in Kilsyth, Kimberley Reserve in Chirnside Park and to partially fence in Wesburn Park’s off-lead area.
Deputy mayor Cr Richard Higgins said the plan was an “extremely important document”, given that the Yarra Ranges had nearly 32,000 registered dogs – the highest in Greater Melbourne.
“It’s something that has plagued councils across Victoria for many, many years.
“Where there’s a conflict between the public walking around and dogs running around… this document strives to make it so that both can happen at the same time,” Cr Higgins said.
The council currently provides 23 dog off-leash areas, however each area has its own requirements, depending on the size, its fencing, shared use and more.
Now, the draft plan is open for submissions to refine its aims and will close on 14 September – visit the website to have your say: shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/dogs-parks.
“It’s about getting it out there for the community to have a look at and actually understand what we’re putting forward,” Cr Higgins said.
Initial community engagement was undertaken between 11 July – 13 August 2024, to understand issues and opportunities concerning dog off-leash areas in the municipality to assist in shaping the draft plan.
Informed by industry practice and extensive community input, the plan would set the standards of the provision, development and maintenance of dog off-leash areas for the next 10 years.
The plan would see at least one dog off-leash area available to the majority of Yarra Ranges residents within a 10-minute drive from home.
With each park needing different requirements, the council has split the parks into two sizes: Local and District levels.
The plan received broad support from councillors, but Cr Peter McIlwain was worried about a few environmental implications.
“I wanna be sure that when we… when we finalise this particular policy that we make every effort to protect the biodiversity, particularly in sensitive areas such as the hills.”
He pointed out that the plan only consulted dog owners which risked not hearing from more diverse perspectives.
“The consultation on this policy up to date has been limited principally to dog owners, and I’d like to impress on council that maybe including some more diversity, particularly people from conservation groups, would perhaps be a good idea in this respect.”
Cr Tim Heenan pointed out the issue of aggressive dogs as being further evidence for dog parks, as the areas provided socialisation and a place for dogs and humans to play.
“Everybody has a responsibility when a dog is in their care to make sure it’s not going to cause an issue with another person or another animal.
“It is a very vital point about why we need these particular dog parks. It’s so that everybody can live in harmony and hopefully have a safe activity that the whole family can enjoy wherever that may be,” Cr Heenan said.
No final decision is outlined in the plan, only the suggestion that the council review these areas for their demand and consider whether they be changed to on-lead.
Cr Child said it was important to take the draft out to the community, to see if the final document got it right.
“Our draft plans are just that – a draft,” he said.
“We create these documents using community feedback… so we’re confident in the information and the proposals we’ve outlined in the People and Dogs in Parks Plan,” Cr Child said.
