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<\/p>\nTHE proposal for a Torquay North dog park has gained more than 100 signatures in less than 48 hours with the community rallying behind seven-year-old advocate Lucca Walsh.<\/p>\n
As the owner of Ziggy \u2013 a one-year-old whippet \u2013 Lucca said dogs like hers needed a designated place to be able to run around without disrupting local soccer teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cZiggy loves going to the football pitch and playing with his friends like Izzy, Charlie, Cassie, Reef, Coco and Falcon,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Representing their families dual-interest with a petition, Lucca said sharing the field was impractical for both dog owners and soccer players including her five-year-old brother Lennon, who plays for the Surf Coast Football team.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the weekend kids might step on dog poo and dog owners can\u2019t exercise their dog,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why we need an actual dog park.\u201d<\/p>\n
Making the petition on behalf of his daughter, Simon Walsh said the demand for a local facility had grown with the recent increase in dog ownership over the COVID-19 period.<\/p>\n
At the time of print the petition had received 466 signatures in just 10 days.<\/p>\n
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While Mr Walsh knew there was a demand for the community infrastructure, he was surprised to see so many people take the time to sign the online petition found on change.org.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appreciate council has other commitments and things to manage but a suitable fenced area is a logical first step and other elements can grow over time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy daughter knows conceptually our dog is a sight hound by nature so he will see something far away and run towards it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a part of their inherent being, so they need a fenced environment, and my daughter understands that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Walsh compared the successful opening of the Belmont Dog Park to the skate park movement that made a \u201creal thrust a decade ago\u201d with facilities beginning to pop up in each community.<\/p>\n
\u201cFenced dog parks are in some sort or another a new community amenity that we will come to expect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are low-cost and low maintenance but highly rewarding for the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can have a pool and support the operational funding for that then surely a low-cost dog park is something they can facilitate in this calendar year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
With more than 6,300 registered dogs on the shire, acting general manager for environment and development Matt Taylor said a dog park has been on the radar since 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of council\u2019s 2016-25 Open Space Action Plan and the 2017-21 Domestic Animal Management Plan, we investigated the potential of a dog park in Torquay,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe survey garnered a strong community response with 228 respondents \u2013 89 per cent who were dog owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe findings also suggested while a dog park might be popular it was not an urgent priority but should remain a consideration as Torquay continues to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Taylor said council would commence consultation on the shire\u2019s dog regulations and a new Domestic Animal Management Plan with the input to determine whether the current on\/off leash areas are appropriate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is when we will next consider if a dog park in Torquay is required to ensure we have the right mix of off leash options for dog owners,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE proposal for a Torquay North dog park has gained more than 100 signatures in less than 48 hours with the community rallying behind seven-year-old advocate Lucca Walsh. As the owner of Ziggy \u2013 a one-year-old whippet \u2013 Lucca said dogs like hers needed a designated place to be able to run around without disrupting […]<\/p>\n