A STATE Member of Parliament is receiving mixed responses from community members as he gauges interest for a dog-dedicated park in Torquay.<\/p>\n
Polwarth MP Richard Riordan is seeking feedback from community members for a fenced Torquay-based dog park.<\/p>\n
Mr Riordan, who has owned several dogs throughout his life, said Torquay residents would greatly benefit from a controlled outdoor setting for their dogs.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The Surf Coast Shire presently has 5,610 registered dogs in its database.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“There are 62 designated off-leash dog areas, including some reserves and beaches, across the shire, however, there aren’t any dog parks yet.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“We’ve started some early work looking at possible options.”<\/p>\n
For all off-leash areas on the Surf Coast, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au\/dogs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n