Goulburn Mulwaree Council has allocated funding over the past three years to install three existing off-leach dog areas located at Victoria Park, Eastgrove and Jack White Park (Bradfordville).

A report to Tuesday’s council meeting by business manager community facilities Rob Hughes said the dog park was originally proposed to be installed in Leggett Park, South Goulburn – but several enquiries from the public about constructing an off-leash area in West Goulburn were then received. 

“The council then undertook community consultation through both Facebook and letter box drops of the surrounding areas at both Leggett Park and Garfield Park (a chosen location in the West Goulburn Area),” Mr Hughes said. 

He said the feedback from the public was significantly higher in favour of the proposed location in Garfield Park, though both sites attracted positive feedback and that dog parks are generally accepted as positive additions to parks by the community. 

“The site chosen in Garfield Park is easily accessed by a larger volume of households, many of which are within walking distance of the site. It is an unused piece of land within the park,” Mr Hughes said. 

He said the consultation also identified that Garfield Park was well-used by the surrounding residents as well as the surrounding schools.

He said Leggett Park received both positive and negative feedback and would make a good location for a dog off leash area in the future, but a study of that park’s possible uses would be undertaken first. 

“Before the installation of any significant infrastructure in this park it would be beneficial to review the park in line with its future potential use around community based recreational activities,” he said. 

“The park could potentially play an important link to the newly constructed Walking Trail through its location and available green space.”

“Work can commence on finalising the design with the aim of having this project completed before December this calendar year.” 

The money is allocated in the 2016/17 financial year capital works program.