AFTER a raft of public feedback, Gunnedah Shire Council will now consider the location for a fenced, off-leash dog park in Gunnedah.
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The council first proposed the idea of allocating Athol Gallen Park as a fenced, off-leash dog park at April’s council meeting after it was deemed current dog park, Woolshed Reserve, was no longer suitable due to fencing issues.
After much discussion at April’s meeting, the council invited the public to have its say on the location of the dog park.
More than 200 submissions flooded in from the public both for and against Athol Gallen Park as the location.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said the amount of submissions against Athol Gallen Park out-weighed those in favour of the site but said he did not know what other parks would be considered as options at this stage.
“I think it is very positive to see so many people make a submission on the location,” Cr Chaffey said.
“The amount of submissions is very impressive and somewhat surprising when compared to say, submissions for the fluoridation of our water, which only attracted around 35 submissions.
“To me, it shows that the majority of our community want a facility like this, so now it’s about finding a location that the majority of the community is happy with.
“That’s why our team at the moment are exploring a few other options for a location.”
Gunnedah Shire Council’s acting director of infrastructure services, Daniel Noble, said the community’s desire for a dog park had been ongoing.
“Over the years council has received consistent calls for an off-leash dog area,” Mr Noble said.
“The open space strategy identified Athol Gallen Park as a suitable area.
“However a recent survey conducted on the proposal showed that community members preferred other locations and a number of suggestions were put forward.”
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Locals were given until May 31 to have their say through council’s community consultation period.
A recent Fairfax Media poll revealed more than 63 per cent of voters would be happy with Gunnedah Shire Council’s suggestion to allocate Athol Gallen Park as a dog friendly space while more than 27 per cent were not in favour of the proposed site.
Cr Ann Luke told the Namoi Valley Independent last month she was open to any location for an off-leash dog park.
“It’s certainly something council as a whole are behind and I’m glad that it was raised and we are looking at it,” Cr Luke said.
“To be honest I’m not particularly precious about any specific location,” she said.
“As I’ve said, all of the councillors are in favour of the proposal and while some have concerns that the proposed location might attract unsafe elements, I remain confident a space like this will be a plus for the community.”
Mr Noble said once a review of the public submissions was complete, a report would be compiled for councillors to make a decision.
“We will now go through the feedback and investigate other options before the proposal goes back to council for consideration at the August ordinary meeting,” he said.
“The community will be kept informed as the proposal progresses.”