Park for Paws: MP gauges interest in dog park

A STATE Member of Parliament is receiving mixed responses from community members as he gauges interest for a dog-dedicated park in Torquay.

Polwarth MP Richard Riordan is seeking feedback from community members for a fenced Torquay-based dog park.

Mr Riordan, who has owned several dogs throughout his life, said Torquay residents would greatly benefit from a controlled outdoor setting for their dogs.

“Having somewhere you can have your dog off-leash, particularly if they’re puppies or a badly trained dog, in a safe and fenced setting, certainly has its value,” he said.

“There have been issues in the Torquay area at shared facilities, at sporting fields for instance, which might not always be an appropriate setting for dogs.

“So, off-leash dog parks are becoming quite the norm in a lot of areas, particularly in areas with smaller backyards and more confined living, which is what is developing in the Torquay area at the moment.

“I’m just posing the question whether or not this is something Torquay needs, and responses have been coming in thick and fast from both sides.”

The Surf Coast Shire presently has 5,610 registered dogs in its database.

The Surf Coast community responded overwhelmingly positively to a community survey in 2019 during preparation of the Shire’s 2022-25 Domestic Animal Management Plan about the possibility of a dog park being established in the region.

Of the respondents 91 per cent of respondents at the time reported that they would use a dog park, while 83 per cent said they would use it on at least a weekly basis.

A local petition started by Surf Coast residents Lucca and Simon Walsh in 2021 also garnered more than 500 signatures at the time for a dog park to be built in Torquay North.

Mr Walsh and his family, who still live in Torquay, say their viewpoint on a dog park in town has not changed, and welcomed Mr Riordan’s actions.

“I think the council recognises the need for a dog park in Torquay, I don’t think anyone disputes that at all; it’s a given,” Mr Walsh said.

“I think the representative has a valid view on this, I don’t disagree with it or have any issues with who champions a matter like this or which platform they use.

“Change needs to happen and the council has a huge couple of years ahead with planning on what the community may or may not need, and there is a need for this.”

The shire’s general manager of community life Gail Gatt said there were a variety of off-leash areas for residents and visitors to enjoy across the region but plans for a designated dog park in the region are still in its infancy stages.

“There are 62 designated off-leash dog areas, including some reserves and beaches, across the shire, however, there aren’t any dog parks yet.

“During the engagement for Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan 2022-25, Torquay community members expressed a need for a dog park with fences, shelter and separate areas for small dogs and large dogs.

“We’ve started some early work looking at possible options.”

For all off-leash areas on the Surf Coast, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/dogs