Residents who are frustrated with the flouting of on-leash dog park rules say the roll-out of City of Newcastle’s Dogs in Open Space plan can’t come soon enough.
Some say the issue stems from a lack of facilities in the local area, as well as a simple disregard for park etiquette by some dog owners.
One Waratah West resident and her daughter, who wish not to be named, were walking their dog recently when he was attacked by an off-leash dog.
“We were walking my dog at Braye Park, and a group of people had their dogs off leash, and
“Our dog was on a leash and the other dogs’ owners couldn’t physically remove his (unleashed) dog from ours. It was clamped on, biting and shaking uncontrollably.”
Her dog sustained significant injuries in the attack.
“My dog had a deep puncture wound behind his ear and scratches on his ear and face,” she said.
Off-leash dogs are not only injuring other animals, but they’re frightening law-abiding owners as well.
“The worst part is my daughter refuses to walk the dog and it use to be her favourite thing to do. She won’t even go to the park any more to ride her scooter or to play,” the woman said.
“My daughter is traumatised. It was one of the things we would do for respite but can’t any more. Some people just don’t get it.”
The woman said more needed to be done to encourage responsible dog ownership.
“Before the incident, the other dog owner called out ‘don’t worry, he is friendly’ and then the dog just pounced. People don’t realise that you can’t predict how animals are going to interact.
“Even if the dog is friendly, it doesn’t matter. Some people and leashed dogs don’t appreciate unleashed dogs harassing them.”
The woman implored council to take action on the issue, saying more signage about fines and increased patrols were needed.
A City of Newcastle spokesperson said ranger patrols had been increased “to target these areas and educate dog owners about compliance and responsible pet ownership”.
“The City’s off-leash areas, parks, reserves and Bathers Way are patrolled by rangers on a daily basis, with 557 proactive patrols carried out year to date.”
Council said that after extensive consultation with the community, they’re continuing to implement strategies to address the issue.
The Dogs in Open Space Plan (introduced in 2019) focuses on the provision, improvement and management of dog off-leash areas in the region over the next 10 years.
Strategies include:
- Establishing additional dog off-leash areas where provision is lacking.
- Providing some fenced dog parks at key locations.
- Enhancing existing off-leash areas.
- Providing community education and information on responsibilities for dogs in public places.
The roll-out of the plan can’t come fast enough, residents say.
Georgie Collins, a pet sitter in the region for more than two years, says council action is well overdue.
The 20-year-old is well aware of locals flouting council rules, and said a lack of facilities was partly to blame.
“There are only two specific gated dog parks: North Lambton and Speers Point Park. While they’re great, if you’re not local you have to drive all the way to them so your dog can be safe in a gated area.”
Georgie is a Hamilton local, and while she could travel to North Lambton, she said the dog owners who employed her often discouraged her from visiting the fenced site “because they don’t trust it”.
“They don’t even feel comfortable taking their perfectly well-behaved dog to a gated, enclosed park because of other residents who don’t comply with the rules.”
It was especially concerning for dogs with anxiety and reactive problems, she said.
A French Bulldog Collins recently took to North Lambton was a prime example, she said.
“Three dogs went at her out of nowhere. She wasn’t even near them. They chased her, barked at her, and she got so anxious she started drooling and foaming at the mouth,” she said.
“Because of that, we can’t go back there. It’s a big problem. People take advantage that they’re in a safe environment for their dogs, but don’t consider the effect on the other dogs.”
Council noted that “an increasing number of people are visiting council-owned sports grounds and off-leash dog parks during the current statewide lockdown to undertake exercise and to exercise their dogs”.
Collins said that “places like Centennial Park in Cooks Hill, Gregson Park in Hamilton and Islington Park – these are great sites in open blocks of land that are for public use, but on- lead use only. When you’re someone who lives in a unit and can only take your dog on a lead to the nearest park, it’s cruel and inconvenient”.
More than 84,000 dogs are registered across the Local Government Area, and council conceded there was a particular “gap in provision in the central, southern and far western areas”.
To meet the increased demand, council has vowed to deliver more off-leash areas.
The Dogs in Open Space Plan seeks to provide a spread of dog off-leash areas, using a “one dog off-leash area per 8000 people” ratio as a guide.
Fenced off-leash dog parks will be strategically located across the city, using a “one fenced dog park per 30,000 people” ratio.
By the project’s completion, City of Newcastle also seeks to provide one fenced dog park in each council ward.
Newcastle has 17 off-leash areas, which account for just under 10 per cent of the city’s parks and reserves.
Collins said “signage, surveillance and security fencing” were needed.
“I think the most pressing point is that the council needs to introduce more double-gated dog parks with surveillance,” she said.
Aside from more facilities, Collins said overall education and etiquette management must also be addressed.
“A lot of issues involve resident complacency surrounding gated parks in the area. Because we’ve only got the one park in Newcastle, a lot of people will go there, take their dog off their lead and sit on their phone and not watch what is going on,” she said.
“There are so many people that go to dog parks and just let their animals run free. They don’t look after them.”
Pet education is an issue NCC is addressing in their Dogs in Open Spaces Plan.
“While free microchipping events and quarterly Pups in the Park group education events are postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, additional signage and updated educational pamphlets have been produced and issued by rangers to educate community members whilst conducting their proactive patrols,” a council spokesperson said.
“The information for dog owners includes highlighting the importance of having dogs under effective control whilst enjoying CN’s off-leash areas, walking dogs on a lead in public places and picking up after their dogs.”
It is a fineable offence under the NSW Companion Animals Legislation to have dogs off lead in public places and not under effective control.
Residents can expect fines of up to $1100 for non-compliance.
Council has urged locals to report incidents to their Customer Service team, so officers can be dispatched to investigate issues when possible.
Residents are reminded that dogs are permitted at all parks if under control on a leash.
Off-Leash Locations
- Acacia Avenue, North Lambton. Acacia Avenue is the city’s first fenced dog park where owners can legally let their dogs roam free inside their very own playground.
- Ballast Ground, Stockton
- Carrington Foreshore
- Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle
- King Edward Park, Newcastle
- Islington Park, Islington
- Maryland Drive Reserve, Maryland
- Michael Street Reserve, Lambton
- Pitt Street Reserve (off King Street), Stockton
- Purdue Park (off Scholey Street), Mayfield
- Nesca Park, Newcastle
- Tarro Recreation Area, Tarro
- Upper Reserve, Wallsend
Time-Restricted Off-Leash Areas
- Braye Park, Waratah: Sunrise to 9am, 5pm to sunset.
- West End Park, Adamstown: Sunrise to 9am, 5pm to sunset.
- Elermore Vale Park, Elermore Vale: Sunrise to 9am, 5pm to sunset.
- Dixon Park Reserve, Merewether: Sunrise to 9am, 5pm to sunset.
Maia O’Connor