The City of Canning will continue an off-leash dog exercise area trial at seven Canning Vale parks until August after council failed to decide on the matter.
At last week’s meeting, council was due to make a decision on permanent off-leash dog exercise areas across Canning Vale despite only being three months into a planned six-month trial of the parks.
The city’s chief executive recommended the establishment of Akania Park on Eucalpytus Boulevard, Connaught Park adjacent to Ranford Primary School and Kinnerton Gardens on Goodwood Way as permanent dog exercise areas.
Rejection was recommended for Burtonia Park, Centella Park, Fairfield Park and The Green Way.
At the June 20 meeting councillor Patrick Hall asked for more time for community feedback but following a lengthy debate the council was unable to reach a decision.
Mr Hall is not a representative of the Nicholson Ward, which Canning Vale falls into, but said some residents had contacted him directly.
“The council did ask for a six-month trial, the community asked for a six-month trial and we haven’t lived up to that,” he said.
“They have 600 dogs registered in Canning Vale yet the only off-leash area they have is in the kennel zone surrounded by a railway line and bushland.”
There are 68 off-leash dog exercise areas in the City of Canning but only one in Canning Vale.
Mr Hall was CEO of the Shenton Park Dogs Refuge Home until 2014 and said
regular dog exercise was the key to resolving issues like restlessness at home and barking when left alone.
He said rejecting the parks before the trial had concluded was a shame for dogs and dog owners and a blow for animal welfare.
“I’m very much hoping when we come back in September to talk about it again the community has provided some more feedback.”
In April the city sent 178 letters to residents living close to each park and received 83 responses.
Some residents said they opposed the changes because of fears of dogs, concerns dog owners would not pick up faeces, negative affects on native wildlife and a lack of car park space.
The three parks the city recommended to the council to approve had about 56 per cent support from feedback.
Due to the council not being able to reach a decision, Mr Hall recommended the city defer its decision until September, which the council agreed to by a vote of five to four.
Councillor Tim Porter, who is a representative of the Nicholson Ward, which takes up the majority of Canning Vale, voted against deferring.
He said he felt he had enough information to make an informed vote if it had gone ahead.
Councillor Christine Tarrant also voted against the deferral and said despite the six-month trial not having been completed it was clear what residents wanted.
“I don’t know what is going to be achieved by giving it more time,” she said.
“We respect the views of the residents in those areas who said they don’t want the parks to be where dogs can be off-leash.”
The trial will end on August 8.
The postponement means the matter will be decided at the September 19 council meeting and the City of Canning was taking public comment up until then.
To provide your input email customer@canning.wa.gov.au, write to Locked Bag 8 Welshpool, 6986 or call 1300 422 664.
