City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Dog off‐Leash Strategy August 2011 Prepared by the Development Services Directorate, City of Greater Dandenong: 
Urban Open Space and Design (Planning and Design Department) 
Animal Management (Regulatory Services Department) 1
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
Introduction.............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Dog off‐Leash Areas in the City of Greater Dandenong .............................................................3
1.2 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Vision and Strategy Objectives...................................................................................................6
1.4 Methodology..............................................................................................................................6
2 Policy Context..........................................................................................................................9
2.1 State Policy.................................................................................................................................9
2.2 Local Policy.................................................................................................................................9
3 Key issues in the operation of dog off‐leash areas in CGD .......................................................12
3.1 Balancing the Needs of Dog Owners and Park Users in the Open Space Network..................12
3.1.1
The Benefits of Off‐Leash Areas .....................................................................................12
3.1.2
Community concerns relating to dogs in public space ...................................................13
3.1.3
Community Use of Dog off‐leash Areas..........................................................................14
3.1.4
Different Dog Off‐Leash Policy Approaches ...................................................................15
3.2 Ancillary Infrastructure ............................................................................................................16
3.2.1
Signage............................................................................................................................16
3.2.2
Fencing............................................................................................................................17
3.2.3
Dog Waste ......................................................................................................................18
3.2.4
Other Park Infrastructure ...............................................................................................19
3.3 Confusion regarding the location of the off‐leash areas..........................................................20
3.4 Dog off‐leash areas and bike paths ..........................................................................................21
3.5 Issues that relate to specific dog off‐leash areas .....................................................................21
3.5.1
Police Paddocks (Endeavour Hills) ..................................................................................21
3.5.2
Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North) ................................................................................22
3.5.3
Fotheringham Reserve (Dandenong)..............................................................................22
3.5.4
Frederick Wachter Reserve (Keysborough) ....................................................................23
3.5.5
Spring Valley Reserve (Springvale South) .......................................................................23
3.5.6
Warner Reserve (Springvale) ..........................................................................................23
3.5.7
Lois Twohig Reserve (Dandenong North) .......................................................................24
4 The Proposal ‐ Policy Approach ..............................................................................................25
4.1 Expansion of the Dog off‐Leash network .................................................................................25
4.2 Supporting the Expansion of the Dog off‐Leash Network........................................................28
4.2.1
The Provision of Ancillary Infrastructure ........................................................................28
4.2.2
Community Awareness – Promotion and Notification ...................................................29
4.2.3
Enforcement ...................................................................................................................31
5 Dog off‐Leash Strategy Action Plan.........................................................................................32
5.1 Action Plan 1: Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan.......................................................32
5.2 Action Plan 2: Promotion and Community Education..............................................................35
5.3 Financial Implications...............................................................................................................36
5.4 Policy Implications....................................................................................................................36
Appendix 1: Proposed Dog off‐Leash Areas ...................................................................................38
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map of Existing Dog off‐Leash Areas and the Distribution of Dog Registration in the City......4
Figure 2: The Provision of Dog off‐Leash Areas in Adjoining Municipalities ...........................................5
Figure 3: Dog off‐Leash Strategy – Strategy Development Process ........................................................7
Figure 4: City of Greater Dandenong’s current Dog off‐Leash Signage..................................................16
Figure 5: Preliminary Signage Concepts for the City’s Off‐Leash Areas .................................................17
Figure 6: Community Preferences ‐ Infrastructure that should be provided in Dog off‐Leash Areas ....20
Figure 7: Proposed Dog off‐Leash Network...........................................................................................26
Figure 8: Dog Off‐Leash Areas ‐ Detailed Proposals ...............................................................................27
Figure 9: Dog off‐Leash Development Standards...................................................................................29
Figure 10 – Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan .........................................................................33
Figure 11: Dog off‐Leash Promotion and Education Program ...............................................................35
2
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 1 Introduction Dog off‐leash areas were first introduced in the City of Greater Dandenong in 2001. Since their inception they have proved extremely popular with dog owners as they provide a great outlet for dogs to get regular exercise and increase their socialisation skills. While there is strong demand by dog owners to expand the dog off‐leash network; the presence of dogs’ off‐leash in the public realm can make other residents and park users feel uncomfortable. This Strategy takes a balanced policy approach to address the open space requirements of all park users. It increases the number of designated dog off‐leash areas across the City from seven to thirteen so that responsible dog owners are provided with more local opportunities to legally exercise their dogs off‐leash; whilst also addressing the concerns of residents that may be wary about off‐leash areas. By taking a holistic approach to the management and control of dogs in the public open space network, this Strategy contributes to Council’s responsible pet ownership campaign and will encourage greater compliance with relevant Local Laws and Orders. The key outcomes of this Strategy include: 
A Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan which will facilitate the expansion of the dog off‐
leash network from seven parks to thirteen parks; 
The termination of the Police Paddocks dog off‐leash area; 
The introduction of Dog off‐Leash Development Standards to guide the provision of ancillary infrastructure (such as bins, signage and fencing) in off‐leash areas; 
A Dog off‐Leash Promotion and Education Program to promote responsible dog ownership and advise residents and park users of changes to the off‐leash network; 
Incorporating the monitoring of dog off‐leash areas and the periodic review of the Dog off‐Leash Strategy into Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan planning process; and 
Provision for adequate ongoing capital funding for the establishment and ongoing operation of dog off‐leash areas. 1.1
Dog off‐Leash Areas in the City of Greater Dandenong Via an Order under the Domestic Animals Act (1994), Council requires all dogs in public places to be on leash, unless they are within a designated off‐leash area. Dog off‐leash areas only apply to a designated area and not necessarily to an entire park. Council currently has seven dog off‐leash areas dispersed across the city (as illustrated in the Figure 1) at Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North), Police Paddocks (Endeavour Hills), Fotheringham Reserve (Dandenong), Lois Twohig Reserve (Dandenong North), Spring Valley Reserve (Springvale South), Frederick Wachter Reserve (Keysborough) and Warner Reserve (Springvale). To assist in the management of off‐leash areas, Council developed a series of ’Off‐leash Rules’ (which are stipulated on Council’s website). Council officers randomly patrol parks and reserves to ensure compliance with these rules. Failure to comply with these requirements could lead to on the spot penalties of up to $234. Much more serious penalties can apply to owners of dogs that rush at, menace or attack people or other animals. The ‘Off leash’ rules are: 
Dogs must be no more than 50 metres from the person walking them and under effective control by voice command or hand signal at all times. 
Dogs must remain on‐leash in all areas, at all times, if any club or school sport is being played in the park/reserve. 
Dog’s off‐leash must not be within 20 metres of a playground at any time. 
Dogs must be wearing a current registration tag at all times when they are outside their owner's property. 3
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 
Dogs must not be allowed within 20 metres of a designated cycling path/track, unless separated from the track by a fence at least 1.2 metres in height. 
Dogs must not be allowed to chase people or other animals. 
Dog owners are responsible for the removal and appropriate disposal of litter and dog waste Figure 1: Map of Existing Dog off-Leash Areas and the Distribution of Dog Registration in the City
4
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 1.2
Purpose There are currently 9,864 dogs registered in the City, including 3,783 dogs registered at the pensioner rate. The actual number of dogs in the City may be even higher when unregistered dogs and ‘visiting dogs’ (or dogs registered at other Councils) are taken into account. 28% of Greater Dandenong households have registered dogs, which is much lower than the national average of 40% of households. Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of dog ownership in the City’s residential areas. Although concentrated somewhat unevenly across the municipality, this distribution suggests that all residential parts of the City require access to local off‐leash areas. Observations by Council’s Animal Management Officers (AMOs) and feedback from the community suggest that the off‐leash areas are operating well, with the majority of dog owners acting responsibly within the City’s off‐leash areas. However, the inequitable distribution and limited number of dog off‐
leash areas across the City presents a significant challenge to compliance and enforcement; as many dog owners lack local opportunities to legally exercise and socialise their dog off‐leash. As a result, they are resorting to unleashing their dogs in on‐leash parks. The City of Greater Dandenong Open Space Strategy (2009) notes that Council owns or manages approximately 580 hectares of land for public open space. Victoria in Future (2009), the current population projections of the Victorian State Government, indicates that by 2026 Greater Dandenong will accommodate an additional 20,771 people. This will have significant implications on the demand for and availability of public open space in the future. Accordingly, Council must take a balanced approach in meeting the diverse (and at times conflicting) needs and expectations of a diverse range of park users. As a significant proportion of park users, the needs of dog owners must be properly planned for and accommodated within the public open space network. As part of its preparation of the Domestic Animal Management Plan (2007) and Open Space Strategy (2009), Council undertook extensive community consultation. Community feedback revealed: 
A need to increase the number of off‐leash areas in Greater Dandenong, particularly in parks that can be accessed by older residents and people with disabilities; 
That Council should reassess ancillary infrastructure requirements to support the dog off‐leash areas (such as signage, doggy bags and bins); 
Support for further community education around responsible pet ownership and an increased enforcement presence to increase compliance with the Council’s local laws and Orders. As indicated in Figure 2, the City of Greater Dandenong has a relatively low number of designated dog off‐leash areas in comparison with adjoining municipalities. Whilst Council sees the need to review the provision of dog off‐leash areas in the City, adopting the policy approach taken by the Cities of Casey and Knox, (where every park in the City is off‐leash unless specified), would be inappropriate in light of Greater Dandenong’s lower rate of dog ownership. Figure 2: The Provision of Dog off-Leash Areas in Adjoining Municipalities
Municipality Dog Off‐Leash Policy Approach / Number of Off‐Leash Areas City of Casey All Council parks are off‐leash (amounting to over 400 parks) except for 17 nominated reserves. Dogs cannot be off‐leash within 20m of a playground. City of Kingston 28 designated dog off‐leash areas (including 4 dog playgrounds). City of Knox All parks (equating to approximately 650 parks) are off‐leash except: 
Specifically nominated conservation areas (comprising 10 parks); 
Areas within close proximity to playgrounds, picnic and BBQ areas, walking or bike tracks etc; and 
Where an organised sporting event is being conducted. City of Frankston 32 designated “Free Roam” areas. Dogs are prohibited in six environmentally sensitive parks and, at certain hours, the beach during the summer months. City of Monash 31 designated dog off‐leash areas. City of Greater Dandenong 7 designated off‐leash areas. 5
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy In response to community feedback, consultation with Council’s AMOs and the above comparison with adjoining Councils, Greater Dandenong Council initiated a review of its dog off‐leash areas and Orders. This review has culminated in the development of this Dog off‐Leash Strategy. 1.3
Vision and Strategy Objectives Together, Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (2007) and Open Space Strategy (2009) outline Council’s commitment to: 
Create an environment where people and pets can peacefully co‐exist within the community; 
Inform and educate the community about the needs of companion animals and promote responsible pet ownership; 
Ensure that the needs of the wider community are reflected through Council’s domestic animal management policies and procedures; 
Provide a range of public parks and reserves within walking distance from most residents that are attractive, interesting, safe, readily accessible and comfortable places to be; and 
Provide a comprehensive open space network that delivers environmental, social, health and wellbeing, and economic benefits to the community. These vision statements have underpinned the development of this Strategy. To achieve this overarching vision, a series of strategic objectives were developed to guide the preparation of this Strategy: 
To balance the needs and wishes of dog owners with the needs of the community for accessible and safe parks. 
To expand the number of dog off‐leash areas and ensure a more equitable distribution across the City. 
To encourage greater compliance with relevant local laws and Orders. 
To increase the capacity of Residential Amenity to advocate for responsible pet ownership and enforce relevant local laws and Orders. 
To review the existing dog off‐leash areas and supporting infrastructure requirements. 
To clearly delineate dog off‐leash areas within each park. 
To minimise potential conflicts between off‐leash areas and other park activities (such as playgrounds, sporting activities and conservation zones). 
To increase the use of under utilised parks / sections of parks. 
To improve accessibility to dog off‐leash areas. 
To incorporate community views and preferences regarding the management and control of dogs in public open space. 
To publicise the new dog off‐leash sites and promote responsible dog ownership through an intensive community awareness campaign. 1.4
Methodology Council’s approach in preparing this Strategy has been summarised in Figure 3. This process generally follows the approach prescribed in Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (2007) for the review of dog off‐leash areas and Orders. 6
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Figure 3: Dog off-Leash Strategy – Strategy Development Process
7
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Council undertook community consultation over a five week period from September to October 2010 to determine how well the existing dog off‐leash areas had been operating, what supporting infrastructure residents would like in off‐leash areas, and the proposed Strategy Objectives and off‐
leash network . During this time residents were able to take advantage of a range of opportunities to provide feedback including: 
Attend an in‐park survey session at eight parks containing existing or proposed off‐leash areas (spread across a five weekend period); 
Complete an online survey about the City’s dog off‐leash areas (via the City of Greater Dandenong website). The survey was also available in hardcopy from Council’s customer service centres and libraries; and 
Submit written comment to Council highlighting specific issues, concerns or opportunities about the Dog off‐Leash Strategy and proposed dog off‐leash areas. In addition to using local media and temporary in‐park signage to publicise the review of Council’s off‐
leash policies and Orders, Council officers undertook a targeted mail out to advise relevant stakeholders of the review and invite feedback. In all, 70 stakeholders were contacted, including sports clubs, animal welfare organisations, Parks Victoria and local environment and community groups. Information about this review was also available at the City’s Micro Chipping Day on 12 September 2010, with residents able to provide feedback to Council’s officers on the day. In all, Council received almost 300 responses to this Strategy review from residents, park users and stakeholders (consisting of 273 surveys and 15 written or verbal submissions). Community feedback was critical in helping to shape the direction, goals and outcomes of the Dog Off‐Leash Strategy. The findings from this community consultation have been integrated into this document, with community attitudes and preferences to specific issues noted where relevant. 8
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 2 Policy Context 2.1
State Policy The Domestic Animals Act (1994) enables Councils to impose conditions on the restraint or control of dogs in public space, including designating certain areas as off‐leash. Pursuant to Section 26(2) of the Act, Greater Dandenong Council made the following order at its meeting on 27 August 2001: A. Unless the public place is an off‐lead area, a dog in a public place must at all times be restrained by its owner by means of a chain, cord or lead. B A dog in an off‐lead area need not be restrained by a chain, cord or leash provided the dog is at all times under the effective control of its owner. C Dogs are prohibited from entering or remaining in a prohibited area of the municipal district, whether restrained or otherwise. D For the purposes of this order: (i) An off‐lead area is an area described in Schedule 1 or is an area of the municipal district which is specified as such by a Council resolution for the purpose of this order and designated by signs in or adjacent to the area. … (iv) A dog is only under the effective control of its owner if the dog will return to its owner upon command and if the owner has a clear and unobstructed view of the dog. (v) A prohibited area is an area described in Schedule 2 or in an area of the municipal district which is specified as such by a Council resolution for the purpose of this order and designated by signs in or adjacent to the area. As such, this order requires all dogs in the public realm to be on‐leash unless in a designated off‐leash area. This Order provides Council with the avenue to enforce its on/off‐leash policy and enables Council to designate future “off‐leash” or “dog prohibited” areas via a resolution. The Act also allows Council to make a local law requiring dog owners to remove and dispose of faeces deposited by their dogs in public places. Council has recently reviewed and adopted its local laws. In accordance with the Act, Clause 27 of Local Law 2 – Municipal Amenity requires a person in charge of an animal in a public place to clean up after their dog and properly dispose of dog waste. 2.2
Local Policy Imagine 2030 (2010) Imagine 2030 is Council’s overarching “Community Plan”, developed through extensive consultation with residents and stakeholders. Community aspirations and priorities form a 20 year vision for the municipality. The importance of public parks and open spaces in the City were particularly stressed, not only as they enable residents to engage in recreation and physical activity, but also for the critical role they play for residents as social hubs and gathering places. Council Plan 2009‐2013 The Council Plan provides a “four year road map” for the municipality via five strategic objectives which accord with and seek to implement the vision established in Imagine 2030. These strategic objectives guide all of Council’s activities, plans, strategies, priorities and budgets over this four year 9
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy period. The Dog off‐Leash Strategy fits within and assists Council in achieving a ’City Planned for the Future’ and ’A Healthy Community and Environment’. Community Well Being Plan (2010) Council’s Community Well Being Plan outlines an approach to improving and enhancing the health and wellbeing of CGD residents under seven priority areas. Priority No. 6, Physical Activity, Leisure and Recreation recognises the relationship between engaging in regular physical activity and improved health and wellbeing outcomes; and also considers barriers to participation in recreation and leisure such as affordability and cultural suitability. A key objective of the Plan is to develop opportunities for recreation and sport for all residents, which includes an Action to review the Dog off‐
Leash Strategy with a view to increasing the number of off‐leash areas. Domestic Animal Management Plan ‐DAMP (2007) Council’s DAMP establishes a series of strategic directions to guide Council’s animal management programs, services, strategies and initiatives, whilst addressing and enhancing organisational capacity. The preparation of Council’s DAMP involved extensive community consultation, which, in relation to the management of the dog off‐leash areas, revealed community support for: 
More and clearer signage in parks, to clearly delineate between on/off‐leash areas; 
An increased presence of Council’s AMOs in the City’s parks and off‐leash areas; 
Equipment in parks to assist owners to pick up after their dogs (such as disposable bags); and 
Increasing the number of off‐leash areas, with a particular emphasis on parks that can be easily accessed by older residents or those with disabilities. Accordingly, a review of off‐leash areas and orders was identified as an action in the accompanying Action Plan for Compliance with Legislation and Orders, which aims to “maximise compliance with domestic animal laws, orders and regulations (State and Local)”. A related issue raised by the community was the importance of community education to promote responsible pet ownership. The Action Plan outlines a comprehensive approach to enhance its community education program. Open Space Strategy (2009) and Action Plan (2010) Council’s Open Space Strategy (2009) and Action Plan (2010) aims to achieve a quality public park and reserve network to meet the recreational and social needs of the existing and future Greater Dandenong Community over the next 20 years. The Strategy recognises the relationship between quality, well located open space and urban amenity and the long term environmental, social, health and well‐being, and economic sustainability of the community. The Strategy outlines a three tier hierarchy of District, Neighbourhood and Local open space and establishes Open Space Provision Goals and Park Development Standards to assist in the management and ongoing maintenance of the open space network. The role of dog off‐leash areas within the open space network was recognised, with community consultation (involving over 600 members of the community) revealing that dog walking is one of the most popular reasons for visiting the City’s parks. The Strategy identifies a review of the dog off‐leash areas and policy as an action in the accompanying Action Plan (2010). Previous Dog off‐Leash Work The Dog Leash‐Free Zones in Public Open Space Strategy (2001) was developed in response to community requests to Council to establish off‐leash areas so that dogs can be exercised off‐leash and socialised adequately. At that time, Council’s local laws required dogs to be on‐leash at all times in the public realm. From an enforcement perspective, it was argued that designating appropriately 10
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy located off‐leash areas in the City would increase compliance with Council’s leash laws, as this would provide responsible dog owners with local opportunities to legally exercise their dog/s off‐leash. A draft strategy was developed providing four different policy approaches to incorporate off‐leash areas into the open space network. These options ranged from designating off‐leash areas in 15 large reserves, 14 local parks (without playgrounds), a combination of small and large reserves (equating to 17 sites) or designating 13 whole reserves as “dog leash‐free running parks”. Following extensive public consultation, involving public meetings and the distribution of 600 copies of the Draft Strategy, two dog off‐leash areas were established in 2001 at Spring Valley Reserve (Springvale South) and Police Paddocks (Endeavour Hills) on a 3 month trial basis. On the 28 June 2004, Council resolved to expand the off‐leash network to a further five parks on a 12 month trial basis at Fotheringham Reserve (Dandenong), Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North), Frederick Wachter Reserve (Keysborough), Lois Twohig Reserve (Dandenong North) and Warner Reserve (Springvale). This expansion to the off‐leash network was necessitated by the popularity of the City’s two existing off‐leash areas and reported difficulties for Council officers to enforce local leash laws if they are only able to direct dog owners to two off‐leash areas in the City (located on the boundaries of the municipality). It was hoped that expanding the off‐leash network and providing a more equitable distribution of designated off‐leash areas across the City would encourage greater compliance with the leash laws as AMOs could direct dog owners to nearby off‐leash areas. Moreover, in response to a petition of 132 residents (received by Council in December 2003), the existing dog off‐leash area at Spring Valley Reserve was relocated and significantly enlarged. Finally, Council also resolved to maintain the Police Paddocks off‐leash area subject to discussions with Parks Victoria and the City of Casey regarding the overall long term future of the this zone. 11
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 3 Key issues in the operation of dog off‐leash areas in CGD Feedback to and observation by Residential Amenity indicates that, overall, the existing dog off‐leash areas are operating well with many dog owners behaving responsibly. This is also supported by the community consultation undertaken as part of the development of this Strategy. However, community feedback and scoping sessions with Council officers also revealed a number of issues with regards to the current operation of off‐leash areas in the City. These issues are discussed in detail below and, where relevant, are accompanied by a recommended policy approach. 3.1
Balancing the Needs of Dog Owners and Park Users in the Open Space Network As a major provider of public open space for structured and unstructured forms of recreation and leisure, Council must balance the competing interests of a range of park users including children, cyclists, sports clubs and dog owners. As dog owners comprise a substantial proportion of park users, and that the presence of dogs in public open space is perceived to affect the ability of other park users to enjoy the City’s reserves; a sustainable long term solution is required to manage the presence of dogs in the public open space network. 3.1.1
The Benefits of Off‐Leash Areas The establishment of clear and fair guidelines related to the presence and management of dogs in public open space is beneficial for all park users. These benefits of designating appropriately located dog off‐leash areas can be summarised as follows: 
One of the key components of responsible pet ownership and maintaining a healthy and socially acceptable dog is regular exercise. Lack of adequate exercise and socialisation of any dog can lead to adverse behaviours and temperaments developing; which can cause a dog to become a problem. Leash free exercise can assist in reducing pent up energy that could otherwise become a nuisance to neighbours at home. Likewise, it can provide an avenue to socialise a dog, as they provide an opportunity for owners to train their dogs in how to behave in public space with other animals and people. 
Council can direct leash free exercise to the most appropriate locations within the open space network. Through design and the appropriate selection of sites, off‐leash use can have minimal impact on incompatible park activities such as playgrounds, conservation areas or organised sports. 
Designating certain sites as off‐leash enables Council to target the provision of ancillary infrastructure (such as bins, signage, walking paths, drinking fountains etc) to support leash free‐
activity, rather than having to supply such infrastructure across the entire open space network. Thus, it can result in considerable savings to Council’s capital works program. 
Providing a sufficient number of equitably distributed designated off‐leash areas can encourage greater compliance with relevant local laws and orders. This can reduce non‐compliance at nearby on‐leash parks as dog owners don’t feel that they are lacking opportunities to walk their dog off‐leash locally. Reducing the incidence of non‐compliance, will also benefit other park users as this assists in restricting off‐leash activity to a limited number of designated areas rather than spread, uncontrolled, across the whole open space network. 
If the needs of dog owners are not being properly or reasonably catered for within a City, this may result in greater levels of non‐compliance with Council’s local laws and Orders with dogs 12
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy exercised off‐leash in on‐leash parks and public streets. Such an uncontrolled approach and disregard for Council policy could result in an increasing number of dog attacks, injuries to people and animals and increased safety concerns within the community. Accordingly, designating off‐
leash areas can contribute to improved community safety outcomes. 
The provision of dog off‐leash areas is one means of encouraging broad community participation in informal recreation and leisure and regular physical activity. Moreover, as many dog owners frequent their local off‐leash area regularly, (and in some cases, daily), many residents develop friendships and social networks through use of these spaces, which is critical in enabling people to feel a sense of inclusiveness and belonging in their community. 
The revenue from dog registrations (between April 2010 and April 2011) amounted to $237,029. The establishment of further off‐leash areas can also be seen to provide dog owners with positive benefits for the money paid annually on their animal registrations. During the consultation period, residents were asked to consider the implications of increasing the number of designated dog off‐leash areas in the City. The survey findings lend further support to the benefits of off‐leash areas outlined above as: 
79% of survey respondents suggested that an expansion to the off‐leash network would increase the number and variety of people using the City’s parks. 63% of survey respondents said that this increased patronage would, consequently, make them feel safer using the City’s parks and reserves. 
72% of survey respondents noted that they would be more likely to use the City’s parks if Council designated further off‐leash sites. 
79% of survey respondents believed that increasing the number of off‐leash sites would assist Council officers in encouraging responsible pet ownership and enforcing the local leash laws. Moreover 66.9% felt that providing a greater number of off‐leash areas was likely to discourage dog owners from letting their dog’s off‐leash in inappropriate locations. In conclusion, 89% of survey respondents supported Council’s approach to increase the number of designated off‐leash areas across the City and felt that this constituted an appropriate policy response to adequately provide for the needs of both dog owners and other park users. 3.1.2
Community concerns relating to dogs in public space There are a number of community concerns relating to the presence of dogs in the public realm. Problems generally attributed to unleashed dogs in public space include: 
Perceived safety risks, ranging from of fear of attack or aggression to humans and other animals, barking and other nuisance behaviour; 
Concerns that dog owners cannot properly control their dogs; 
Non‐compliance with Council’s relevant local laws and orders including, dog owners failing to clean up after their dogs; and 
Concerns around the perceived inability for large and small dogs to share an off‐leash area safely. Moreover, given the cultural diversity of our community, many residents may come from backgrounds without a strong tradition of pet or dog ownership and, therefore, may be wary of dogs off‐leash in the public realm. The City of Greater Dandenong records an average of 45 dog attacks per annum across the municipality. 87% of these attacks occur within a resident’s home or on public streets immediately adjacent to where the dog resides. There have been seven confirmed dog attacks in or close to off‐
13
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy leash areas since the off‐leash network was expanded in 2004. This represents only 1.4% of attacks that occurred over that time, suggesting that the perceived dangers associated with off‐leash areas are not reflected in actual incidents. Providing opportunities for responsible dog owners to freely exercise their dogs in a reasonable number of well located parks may reduce the likelihood of incidences or attacks involving dogs in residential areas, as the dogs are less likely to be frustrated with pent up energy. Establishing an appropriate number of off‐leash areas across the City assists Council’s AMOs to enforce the local laws more stringently, as they are able to direct dog owners to nearby off‐leash areas and penalise those that frequently do not comply. Furthermore, many of the concerns relating to dog attacks can be directly attributed to an irresponsible owner, suggesting the community education around responsible pet ownership is as critical as simply designating additional off‐leash areas. While there are concerns on the one hand regarding the perceived risk of dogs in the public realm, encouraging greater use of Council’s parks has the potential to contribute overall to community safety. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles adopt a “safety in numbers” approach. That is, ‘activating’ a public space (by introducing an activity / use, increased lighting etc) may encourage a greater number of people to use that space that, in turn, can result in increased passive surveillance and, consequently, reduce the potential for crime. In this context, attracting dog owners to an underutilised area of a park could contribute to improved community safety, particularly as dog owners tend to take their dogs to the park at non peak times (such as early morning or late afternoon/evening). Another community concern raised is that free‐running dogs can damage or disturb environmentally significant or conservation areas such as local habitat or remnant vegetation. Often dog walkers will prefer to frequent areas of higher amenity which can be associated with areas of greater natural value. The selection of dog off‐leash sites should avoid areas of environmental or conservation significance to ensure that impacts on the environment are minimised. Moreover, providing sufficient local opportunities for dogs to be exercised off‐leash may reduce the incidence of non‐
compliance at nearby parks of conservation or environmental significance. Policy Approach: 
The new off‐leash sites should be introduced through an intensive community awareness campaign that promotes responsible pet ownership, advises residents of the locations and boundaries of the off‐leash areas and the responsibilities of dog owners when exercising their dogs off‐leash and using the City’s on‐leash parks. 
Improve Council’s existing dog off‐leash signage to encourage greater compliance with the City’s off‐leash rules. 3.1.3
Community Use of Dog off‐leash Areas During the consultation period, Council received almost 300 responses to this Strategy review, of which, 273 responses were from online, posted or in‐park surveys. One of the aims of the survey was to understand how dog owners are currently using the City’s off‐leash areas. Some of the key findings from dog owners who responded to the survey are: 
Dog owners that frequent the City’s dog off‐leash areas use them regularly. Around 44% of respondents stated that they used the City’s off‐leash areas more than three times a week, with a further 20% using them between once and three times a week. 
Dog owners nominated proximity to home, the size of the off‐leash area and knowing other dog owners that use an off‐leash area as the three most popular reasons for frequenting the off‐leash area they use the most. Other important reasons include safety, the facilities provided at that 14
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy particular park (including car parking, fencing, seating and bins) and general park amenity (e.g. park maintenance, it’s not too busy etc.). 
Access to local off‐leash sites is important for dog owners with 67% walking to the dog off‐leash area that they use the most. Only 31% travel to off‐leash areas via private vehicle. 
While off‐leash areas are well used throughout the day, peak periods appear to be on weekdays and weekends between 8am to 10am. 3.1.4
Different Dog Off‐Leash Policy Approaches Councils have adopted various policy approaches and strategies to accommodate off‐leash activity in public open space and minimise conflict between dogs/dog owners and other park users, including: 
No dogs allowed: No dog is allowed at any time (either on or off‐leash). 
Dogs permitted only on‐leash: Dogs are permitted only while on a leash. 
Time‐share: Dogs are permitted off‐leash only at certain times. 
Separate zone: Dogs are permitted off‐leash within a certain exclusive area. 
Multi‐zone: Dogs are permitted off‐leash within a certain area in which other activities may also occur. 
Off‐leash Park: Dogs are allowed off‐leash throughout the entire park. There are a number of benefits and problems associated with each approach. The main conflict points appear in summary to be: 
Too few controls over dogs in public open space. 
Too many or too limiting controls over dogs in public open space. 
While banning dogs in some parks may be appropriate, if not coupled with measures to address their displacement at a nearby park, this may result in dog owners not‐cooperating with policy. 
Designated off‐leash areas are placed too close to other incompatible park uses (such as cycling tracks, playgrounds and picnic facilities) without an accompanying design response (such as fencing) to manage these conflict points. 
Managing “transition areas” can be problematic when the off‐leash area does not apply to the entire park. If the boundaries of the off‐leash area are not well defined (through fencing or signage) or irresponsible dog owners simply let their dogs off‐leash upon entering a park containing an off‐leash area, rather than only when they enter the off‐leash area, this can cause conflict with other park users or activities. 
Dog off‐leash areas are placed in parks that are too small to accommodate free‐running dogs. 
Clashing of user times where time sharing arrangements are in place or overly complicated time share arrangements which cause confusion among park users. 
Time share arrangements are often not viable if dog owners don’t demonstrate compliance with Council’s dog waste removal policy. 
When poorly located, badly designed, inaccessible areas within the parks, or “left over spaces” (such as areas prone to flooding or perceived to be unsafe etc), are designated as off‐leash or they are not properly equipped with ancillary infrastructure to support the off‐leash activity; they are unlikely to be well utilised by dog owners. This may result in non‐compliance at a nearby on‐
leash park. 
With finite public open space available, the segregation of leash free‐activity from other park uses, as prescribed in the “separate zone” approach, is not sustainable in the long term, particularly as demand for open space intensifies Policy Approach 
Council’s policy approach (first introduced in 2001) has been to designate certain areas within parks as off‐leash as this provides a cautious, yet balanced, approach that takes into account the needs of dog owners and other park users. Moreover, this does not necessarily exclude other 15
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy park users from frequenting these areas thus enabling multiple uses of park facilities, while providing legal places that dogs can be exercised off‐leash. 3.2
Ancillary Infrastructure A key aim of the consultation period was to determine the ancillary infrastructure requirements of dog owners and other park users to ensure the viability of the off‐leash area. Providing ancillary infrastructure to support off‐leash activity is likely to encourage higher levels of compliance in on‐
leash parks as dog owners are more likely to prefer frequenting off‐leash areas than on‐leash parks which lack these facilities. Moreover, infrastructure (such a signage and fencing) can be used to clearly define the boundaries of an off‐leash area, which is likely to address many community concerns regarding the management and control of dogs in public open space, thus, improving the recreational experience of all park users. 3.2.1
Signage While information brochures, local media and a web based campaign can be critical components of a community education program, in this instance, effective signage in parks is the most direct way of advising park users, dog owners and “visiting dog owners” of the location, boundaries and rules of off‐
leash areas. Well located, easy to read effective signage can: 
Encourage greater compliance with local leash laws and assist Council officers to promote responsible pet ownership; and 
Be instrumental in delineating between on‐and off‐leash areas, which may counter the need for extensive fencing and assist to reduce confusion over the boundaries of a dog off‐leash area and minimise conflict with other park uses and activities. Currently, Council’s off‐leash areas are equipped with perimeter off/on‐leash signage to (delineate between the off/on‐ leash areas within a park) and educational signage (which contain the off‐leash rules and a map of the off‐leash area). Examples of Council’s existing signs are illustrated below in Figure 4. Figure 4: City of Greater Dandenong’s current Dog off-Leash Signage
Officer and community views on Council’s existing ‘dog signage’ were sought during the public consultation stage. The following weaknesses with Council’s existing “dog signage” were identified: 
Council’s dog off‐leash signage is extremely “text heavy”. Given Greater Dandenong’s culturally and linguistically diverse community, Council should adopt a clear, image based approach to convey key messages. Where text is used to outline rules, regulations and penalties, it should be simple and easy to understand and the font size should be increased; 
The images currently utilised do not clearly convey if an area is on‐ or‐off‐leash or if dogs are prohibited; 16
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 




Current signage fails to adequately stress that dog owners are responsible for picking up after their dog. This should be conveyed in an image rather than with text, with reference to penalties that may apply if dog owners fail to comply with this rule; The scale of the map used on Council signage does not clearly indicate the boundaries of the off‐
leash area relative to other features or activities in the park, with some residents indicating that the maps currently make it look as though the entire park is off‐leash. Moreover, the orientation of the map is confusing for park users as they don’t necessarily face the same position as the sign, nor do they include a “You are Here” marker; The existing pole signs used to signal the perimeter of the off‐leash area are not at eye level and cannot be easily distinguished from other signs in the parks. As a result, park users can often overlook their importance; In some parks, certain messages should be emphasised (for instance, it may be necessary to stress that dogs must be on‐leash if sport is being played in the reserve); and Some residents commented that a Council phone number should be noted on Council’s off‐leash signs so that park users can report infringements. As an initial step, Council developed preliminary, image based, signage concepts to test during the community consultation stage (Figure 5). 97.2% of survey respondents indicated a preference for these preliminary signage concepts to Council’s existing signage, with many noting that they were clearer, easier to understand and much more effective in conveying key messages. Many residents noted that off‐leash areas should still contain some form of educational signage (that detail the rules, regulations and penalties and provide a map of the off‐leash area); but that this signage would be significantly improved if it was accompanied by the images below. Figure 5: Preliminary Signage Concepts for the City’s Off-Leash Areas
Policy Approach – Signage: 
With consideration to community feedback, Council should redesign its “dog signage” and re‐
brand the City’s off‐leash areas to ensure that the locations and boundaries of the City’s dog off‐
leash areas, the responsibilities of dog owners and the off‐leash rules are more easily understood by residents. 3.2.2
Fencing The use of fencing to separate off‐leash areas from other park activities is commonly cited as means to address the safety concerns of other park users. However, completely enclosing an off‐leash area is not always necessary. In some cases, all that is required is providing visual definition of an off‐leash area, or installing fencing along one or two boundaries. Visual definition can be achieved via signage, bollards, an internal park road or by taking advantage of the existing form, layout or natural features of the park (such as marked changes in topography, existing tree lines, hedges, wide planting strips etc). While the majority of dog owners requested that all off‐leash areas be completely enclosed and gated; others stated that they would feel uncomfortable or “trapped” if these areas were entirely 17
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy enclosed by fencing and gates without multiple entrances/exits. Council has generally tried to minimise the use of fencing and other constructed barriers in dog off‐leash areas because: 
Fences can be visually intrusive, costly to install and add to maintenance costs; 
Fences can create unnecessary barriers to movement and sightlines within a park; 
Unnecessarily segregating park users and activities and designating certain sections of parks to the exclusive use of one user group, is not a sustainable solution to manage open space in the long term, particularly as demand for public open space intensifies; 
Completely enclosing off‐leash areas can actually lead dog owners to take a more casual/lax approach when supervising their dogs, as they may assume that their dogs do not need to be as well trained or closely supervised in an enclosed space; 
Community feedback received during the for the Open Space Strategy consultation process (2009) indicated a preference to generally minimise the use of fencing in parks where possible; and Policy Approach – Fencing: Council’s approach to fencing should reflect community feedback: 
When selecting future off‐leash sites, Council should take advantage of the existing form or layout of the park to clearly define the off‐leash area, thus minimising the need for fencing. 
Where necessary, Council should install structures to signal the perimeter of the off‐leash area. In the first instance, an assessment of whether simply providing visual cues to define the boundary is sufficient (such as effective signage or bollards). When required, fencing should be installed to ensure an appropriate barrier to a sensitive adjacent uses or activity (such as children’s playgrounds, bike tracks, picnic or BBQ areas, sports grounds and areas of significant environmental value, revegetation or wildlife habitat). 3.2.3
Dog Waste Council’s local laws stipulate that dog owners are responsible for the removal and appropriate disposal of litter and dog waste. The survey responses indicate strong support for Council to continue this existing waste policy with 80% of dog owners noting that this policy should be maintained. While an owner can be fined for non‐compliance, this is a difficult law to enforce and, consequently, is often ignored by irresponsible dog owners. Councils have adopted various approaches for dealing with dog waste ranging from placing the onus on dog owners to pick up and dispose of dog waste, to introducing bins, doggy bags or in‐park composting facilities and other infrastructure in parks. Each method has various pros and cons in terms of relative success in reducing litter, the ability to enforce regulations and the establishment and ongoing maintenance costs. While all of these initiatives were generally well supported by survey respondents, the provision of bins in parks was, overwhelming, the preferred method. 95% of survey respondents indicated support for this initiative because bins can be used by all park users and thus can help keep the City’s parks waste and litter free. While there is a general consensus on the public provision of bins in parks, this consensus does not extend to the issue of Council providing doggy bags in parks. On the one hand, it is argued that supplying bags in off‐leash areas would increase compliance with Council’s local laws and encourage dog owners to pick up after their dog. Moreover, the supply of biodegradable bags can have positive environmental impacts. Conversely, it is argued that: 
Providing doggy bags incurs significant capital and ongoing maintenance costs to Council. 
The mere provision of doggy bags in parks does not necessarily influence behaviour, particularly as responsible dog owners are already prepared to clean up after their dog and carry doggy bags accordingly. 18
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 

There are concerns that once dog owners begin to rely on Council to supply doggy bags in off‐
leash areas at all times, there may be times where no bags are readily available (typically as dispensers are vandalised or broken). As owners would be out of the habit of carrying their own bags, dog waste would simply be left in parks; While bags may be supplied at the off‐leash areas, this is ineffective if dog owners are walking to the off‐leash area and dogs relieve themselves on the journey. Moreover, dog owners also frequent the City’s on‐leash parks, so it may set a precedent for Council to supply doggy bags across the entire park network which would have significant cost implications. Some Councils provide registered dog owners with “doggy ‐do” attachment bags. This bag can be attached to a dog’s lead and the owner can place clean bags in it to carry on the walk so that the owner has a receptacle ready on hand to clean up after the dog. This may not only encourage people to register their dogs, but will also assist responsible dog owners to comply with the local laws regardless of whether they walk their dog in a public street, park or off‐leash area. Moreover, it can be seen to provide dog owners with positive benefits for the money paid annually on their animal registrations. At present, only one of Council’s dog off‐leash areas (Frederick Wachter Reserve) provides a bag dispenser, which was installed on a trial basis. Although popular with dog owners using this off‐leash area, maintenance of the bag dispenser has been an ongoing problem for Council. As well as the ongoing supply cost to keep the bags stocked, the dispenser has been replaced once and fixed numerous time over the last 18 months due to vandalism. This trial of the bag dispenser at Frederick Wachter Reserve suggests that it is not feasible to supply doggy bags at every off‐leash area. Policy Approach: Waste Management 
Council’s local laws currently require dog owners to carry appropriate means and to pick up and dispose of their dog’s faeces. This policy should be continued. 
Council should supply a bin at every off‐leash area to assist dog owners to comply with the Council’s local laws. As Council’s waste policy approach should be consistent at all parks, the bag dispenser at Frederick Wachter Reserve should be removed. 
Council should explore the feasibility of supplying a “doggy‐do” attachment bag to all registered dog owners. 
All promotional materials for the dog off‐leash areas (including signage, Council’s webpage and informational brochures etc.) should promote responsible dog ownership and compliance with Council’s local laws and orders, including that dog owners are responsible for picking up after their dog. 3.2.4
Other Park Infrastructure Residents and park users indicated overwhelming support for dog off‐leash areas being enhanced by signage, fencing, bins and doggy bags, as demonstrated in Figure 6. They also supported the provision of a range of other infrastructure to improve amenity and comfort of the City’s off‐leash areas (including walking paths, drinking fountains, dog drinking bowls and seating), all of which further supports the use of these areas for off‐leash activity as well as general exercise / physical activity. However, there are significant capital and ongoing maintenance costs associated with providing such infrastructure, which must be balanced against other priorities in Council’s City Improvement Program. The designation of off‐leash areas does not necessarily preclude other park users from using these areas. If Council provides additional infrastructure (such as walking paths, drinking fountains etc), their provision should be planned and designed to enable multiple user groups to use these facilities, thus providing the most efficient and equitable distribution of resources. Accordingly, those matters should be addressed through Council’s broader Open Space Strategy. 19
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Figure 6: Community Preferences - Infrastructure that should be provided in Dog off-Leash Areas
100
90
SURVEY RESPONSES
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Seating
A Walking
Path
Partial
fencing
(only where
necessary)
Fencing to Perimeter Educational
fully enclose signage
Signage
the dog off‐ (signalling (outlining
leash area
the
the dog off‐
boundaries leash rules)
of an off‐
leash area)
Bins
Doggy bags Car Parking
Drinking
Fountains
Dog
Drinking
Bowls
Policy Approach: Other Park Infrastructure 
Clear Park Development Standards for off‐leash areas should be established that provide a priority weighting for the provision of ancillary infrastructure. These standards should specify the infrastructure that must be provided when an off‐leash area is established, and those that should be planned and provided for as part of the broader Open Space Strategy. 3.3
Confusion regarding the location of the off‐leash areas A key issue affecting the operation of the dog off‐leash areas in the City is that dog owners are confused regarding their exact location and boundaries, often assuming that the dog off‐leash area applies to an entire park. This can be attributed to: 
The existing signage and Council’s off‐leash promotional materials (the Council website and off‐
leash brochures) do not clearly show the location and boundaries of the off‐leash area. For instance, the Council website only lists the parks and reserves containing off‐leash areas, but does not include an accompanying map illustrating which section of the park is an off‐leash area. 
Some dog owners are letting their dogs off‐leash simply upon entering a park containing an off‐
leash area rather than waiting until they enter the designated off‐leash area. This may be due to the confusion around the exact boundaries of the off‐leash areas or deliberate non‐compliance by irresponsible dog owners. Policy Approach: 
All dog off‐leash promotional materials (such as brochures and the Council website) and Council’s ’dog signage’ should be updated to clearly illustrate the off‐leash area boundaries relative to other park activities. 
During regular patrols of the City’s off‐leash areas, AMOs should continue to advise dog owners of the of the off‐leash area boundaries. 
In selecting future off‐leash areas and preparing concept plans to guide the provision of ancillary infrastructure, consideration should be given to: ○
The relative proximity of the main entrances of the reserve to the off‐leash area; and ○
The appropriate management of transition areas (the area between the main entrances and 20
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy the off‐leash area) – for instance, if the dog owners must pass a children’s playground to access a designated off‐leash area this may warrant additional fencing or signage. 3.4
Dog off‐leash areas and bike paths Council off‐leash rules currently stipulate that dogs must not be allowed off‐leash within 20 metres of a designated cycling path / track, unless separated from the track by a fence at least 1.2 metres in height. Feedback from the community and Council offices suggests that this rule is not complied with in many parks with many irresponsible dog owners letting their dogs off‐leash and/or poorly supervising them on the City’s bike tracks. Recently, Residential Amenity purchased two all terrain vehicles (ATVs) which has greatly increased the capacity of AMOs to enforce Council’s local laws and orders along the City’s bike trails and networks. Previously, these extended bike and path networks were not easily accessible for officers. It is hoped that as park users continue to see this increased enforcement presence on the City’s bike networks, this eases the concerns of cyclists, while encouraging dog owners to comply with the leash rules. Policy Approach: 
Council’s off‐leash promotional materials should further reinforce the rules pertaining to dogs and bike tracks to encourage greater compliance. 
AMOs should continue to patrol the City’s bike network with the ATVs and advise dog owners of the leash rules that apply along the City’s bike tracks. 
On‐leash signage may need to be installed on cycle tracks where AMOs are finding consistent incidences of non‐compliance. 3.5
Issues that relate to specific dog off‐leash areas Some site specific issues have been raised during the community consultation and internal consultation with Council officers. These issues, along with a recommendation / proposal have been summarised below: 3.5.1
Police Paddocks (Endeavour Hills) Under the provisions of the Domestic Animals Act 1994, Greater Dandenong’s Authorised Officers may only enforce the Act within the municipal boundaries, regardless of leasing/management arrangements. The off‐leash area in Police Paddocks is leased by Council, located on Parks Victoria land and lies within the City of Casey boundaries. As such, Council cannot engage in enforcement of the above legislation. Recommendation: 
Discontinue the dog off‐leash area in Police Paddocks immediately and notify Parks Victoria and the City of Casey of accordingly. 21
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 3.5.2
Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North) Tirhatuan Park is a popular park with dog owners however the currently designated off‐leash area (located to the far north of the park) is not well utilised. This park was cited by Council’s AMOs as the park with the highest number of illegal off‐leash dogs. This can be attributed to the designated off‐
leash site’s isolation from other park activities and car parking, as well the perceived threat of snakes in the area, which discourages dog owners from using it. As a result, the designated off‐leash area is seldom used, with dog owners letting their dogs off‐leash all over the park. This is particularly concerning given that this park contains a district playground and areas of environmental significance with dogs disturbing important local habitat, wetland areas and recently revegetated areas. Council explored various options to relocate this off‐leash area, with three options presented to the community during the consultation process (including retention of the existing off‐leash area). It is hoped that relocating the off‐leash area to a more centralised position would increase compliance with the leash laws in this park and ensure that they can be more easily enforced by Council’s AMOs. Relocating the off‐leash area to the north of Kriegal Way was a popular response among Council officers and the community. This would improve accessibility to the off‐leash area as it would be located near the main entrance of the park and adjacent to the car park, which is likely to improve compliance. Bollards are already in place along the southern boundary (along Kriegal Way) and the car park to the west. The boundary to the north will need to be well defined by signage and bollards to minimise damage to the conservation / revegetated area and creek line. Fencing should be installed to the western boundary along the cycle path to accord with Council’s off‐leash rules. Kriegal Way and the car park will provide an adequate buffer to the nearby playground and BBQ area, thus minimising the need for fencing. Recommendation: 
The existing dog off‐leash area should be relocated to the north of Kriegal Way (see Appendix 1). 
The site will require fencing along the western boundary, and bollards to the north to minimise conflict with the adjacent cycle track and conservation area. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure. 3.5.3
Fotheringham Reserve (Dandenong) The existing dog off‐leash area is currently bisected by an unfenced shared user path. This is inconsistent with Council’s “off‐leash rules” which stipulate that “Dogs must not be allowed within 20 metres of a designated cycling path/track, unless separated from the track by a fence at least 1.2 metres in height”. This inconsistency is confusing for dog owners, cyclists and park users and makes enforcement of this rule difficult for Council’s AMOs. Another issue that has arisen is the need to provide an adequate buffer between the off‐leash area, the creek and the conservation area. Recommendation: 
It is proposed to shrink the off‐leash area so that it is contained to one side of the shared user path. This could also enable the expansion / revegetation of the conservation area to the east in future. It is recommended that fencing be installed along the boundary to the shared user path, and bollards to the northern boundary adjacent to the creek (see Appendix 1). 22
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 3.5.4
Frederick Wachter Reserve (Keysborough) This reserve contains the most popular and heavily utilised dog off‐leash area in the City. Establishing an additional off‐leash area at a nearby reserve is warranted as it may help to relieve pressure on the dog off‐leash area at Frederick Wachter Reserve. Park users and dog owners using this reserve raised concerns with the existing fencing along the perimeter of this off‐leash area. Specifically, that dogs can crawl underneath the fencing and escape from the off‐leash area and that the area should be gated at both ends. As already discussed earlier, completely enclosing/gating the off‐leash area is inconsistent with Council policy. When the fencing is due for replacement as part of Council’s maintenance program, the type of fencing being used will be re‐evaluated. Recommendation: 
Continue to maintain the existing dog off‐leash area. As discussed earlier (Section 3.2.3), the bag dispenser should be removed. 
Review the fencing being used at this off‐leash area when it is due for replacement. 3.5.5
Spring Valley Reserve (Springvale South) Spring Valley Reserve is functioning well and popular with dog owners. The location and size of this off‐leash area may be reassessed in future as part of the development of the Spring Valley Reserve Master Plan. Recommendation: 
The existing dog off‐leash area should be maintained. 3.5.6
Warner Reserve (Springvale) Council’s AMOs have advised that the existing dog off‐leash area to the south of Mile Creek in Warner Reserve is not well utilised because there are perceived community safety concerns in Warner Reserve South due to the extensive cyclone wire fencing (which obscures sight lines in the park), frequent rubbish dumping and vandalism of Council signage. These safety concerns are compounded by the site’s relative isolation from other park facilities and car parking. In addition the off‐leash area is often wet in winter months, which deters dog walkers from walking through the site. As a result, AMOs are noting an increasing number of dog walkers exercising their dogs off‐leash in Warner Reserve North. This increasing rate of non‐compliance is of concern given that Warner Reserve North contains a district and local level playground, as well as numerous other organised sports activities. Formalising an off‐leash area in Warner Reserve North would ensure that off‐leash activity is directed to the most appropriate location in the reserve, thus minimising conflict with the park’s existing recreational activities. Options for relocating the existing off‐leash area to the north of Mile Creek were explored as part of this review. A sizeable area of passive open space is located north of Mile Creek, between the local playground and tennis courts, to the west of the Flynn Street car park. Due to its size and its high level of accessibility (via Wood, Flynn and Deany Streets and the internal park path network), this site is an ideal location for a future off‐leash area. Moreover, the area would be well lit by existing lighting at the adjacent tennis courts and walking track which, along with the site’s relative proximity to other 23
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy park activities, should address the community safety concerns of dog walkers. Finally, this relocation would increase the size of the off‐leash area in Warner Reserve form 0.8 hectares to 1.8 hectares. Therefore, it is envisaged that relocating the existing off‐leash area to this site would improve the level of compliance with Council’s relevant local laws and orders at this reserve. Fencing is already in place to the west (tennis courts) and north (residential fencing), but additional fencing will need to be installed along the south‐east boundary to provide an adequate barrier to the playground. In the detail design of this off‐leash area, the potential expansion of the sports facilities and upgrading of the Flynn Street car park will also need to be considered. Recommendation: 
The existing dog off‐leash area should be relocated to the north of Mile Creek (see Appendix 1). 
The site will require fencing along the south‐eastern boundary to provide an adequate barrier to the nearby local level playground. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure (which should consider the potential expansion of sports facilities and upgrading of the Flynn Street car park). 3.5.7
Lois Twohig Reserve (Dandenong North) The off‐leash area is currently located in the retarding basin to the south of the car park and is well bounded by fencing, a walking path, tree line and a sharp change in topography. This area is also being allocated as an overflow soccer ground, specifically as a training and practice match venue, to relieve the traffic from the main soccer ground to the north. This dual use arrangement is currently not causing tension between park users and dog owners. Use of the ground for soccer is primarily limited to the soccer season and pre‐season for a limited number of hours a week. However, as demand on the primary soccer ground increases in future, this is likely to similarly heighten demand for the overflow ground. As the soccer use becomes more prominent, the dual use may no longer be viable and may need to be reassessed in future. Recommendation: 
The site should continue to be used as an off‐leash area with accompanying signage that clearly indicates that dogs must be on‐leash if sports activities are occurring in the reserve. 
The site should be closely monitored by Council’s AMOs and Community, Sport and Recreation officers so that if the use of the overflow soccer ground intensifies the future of the off‐leash function may need to be reassessed. 
If, in future, the off‐leash area must be discontinued, an alternative off‐leash site should be developed nearby so that dog owners are not displaced, and are provided an opportunity to exercise their dogs locally. 24
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 4 The Proposal ‐ Policy Approach With consideration to community feedback, this Strategy sets out a reasonable and equitable approach to satisfy the needs of dog owners in public open space without compromising the recreational needs of other park users. Increasing the number of off‐leash opportunities within the open space network responds to community requests and provides a fair and reasonable spread of off‐leash areas to cater for the City’s thousands of registered dog owners. The vast majority of public spaces throughout the city will still require dogs to be on‐leash and fully accessible to all park users. The expansion of the dog off‐leash network is only feasible if properly supported by enforcement, the provision of ancillary infrastructure to support off‐leash activity and an intensive community education campaign. As such, this Strategy sets out an approach that considers each of these critical elements. 4.1
Expansion of the Dog off‐Leash network The following Selection Criteria was used to identify additional parks that could accommodate off‐
leash areas: 
Community Preferences – The selection of dog off‐leash areas take into account the views of the community. 
A Network Approach – To ensure a more equitable distribution of dog off‐leash areas across the City. 
Emphasis on District and Neighbourhood Reserves (where possible) ‐ As they provide ample space and often, the necessary infrastructure to cater for both dog off leash areas and other recreational pursuits. 
Dog Registration Data – To ensure that areas with a high concentration of dog ownership are well served by dog off‐leash areas. 
Form and Layout of the Park – Particularly with consideration to: ○
Topography and natural features that could give definition to an off‐leash area. ○
Internal path networks, major roads etc. ○
The location of existing fencing and bollards within a park. 
Size, Shape and Configuration of the Park and Dog off‐Leash Area – To ensure that there is sufficient space for dogs to run off‐leash. 
Accessibility – To select off‐leash areas in highly accessible parks/locations, with consideration to major roads, provision of car parking, internal park roads and path networks and park entrances. 
Compatibility with Adjacent Park Activities – Ensuring incompatible uses (such as sports fields, playgrounds, BBQ/picnic areas, bike trails etc) are not co‐located with dog off‐leash areas or that potential conflict can be minimised through design (such as fencing and signage). 
Consideration to Areas of Conservation or Environmental Significance – To protect or minimise adverse affects to conservation areas and creek corridors. 
Park Usage Levels – Review of park areas that are being under/over utilised (i.e. to ‘activate’ an area within a park that is currently under‐utilised, while ensuring that areas that are heavily used and cannot accommodate leash free activity are not selected). Following internal scoping sessions and an audit of the City’s open space network, a number of parks were identified to satisfy these selection criteria and potentially accommodate off‐leash areas. 14 parks were presented to the community for consideration. One survey was specifically designed to garner community views around each of the existing and proposed off‐leash locations, with questions relating to the appropriateness of the park to accommodate off‐leash activity, where it could be located, how often they are likely to use it and what improvements (if any) they could suggest. 25
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Community feedback informed the final selection of off‐leash sites. The proposed off‐leash network is illustrated in Figure 7. Only 48% of survey respondents believed that the existing off‐leash network was equitably distributed across the City; in contrast, 64% advised that the proposed distribution of off‐leash areas was ‘very well’ or ‘well’ spread across the municipality. The detailed proposals for each park are contained in Figure 8 with maps of each of the existing and proposed off‐leash areas can be found in Appendix 1. While this Strategy identifies the most appropriate locations for future off‐leash areas within the City’s open space network, these allocations may require re‐evaluation in the future as part of master planning processes for these reserves and as demand for particular activities and uses at each reserve change over time. As already discussed, it is proposed to discontinue to the dog off‐leash area at Police Paddocks (Endeavour Hills) immediately as Council has no legal ability to conduct enforcement activity at the site. Figure 7: Proposed Dog off-Leash Network
26
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Figure 8: Dog Off-Leash Areas - Detailed Proposals
Reserve Area Dandenong North Tirhatuan Park 0.79 hectares Lois Twohig Reserve 1.36 hectares Dandenong Greaves Reserve 0.6 hectares Robert Booth Reserve 1.4 hectares Fotheringham Reserve 0.7 hectares Proposal The existing dog off‐leash area should be relocated to the north of Kriegal Way. The site will require fencing or bollards along the north and western boundaries to minimise conflict with the adjacent cycle track and conservation area. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure. The site should continue to be used as an off‐leash area with accompanying signage clearly indicating that dogs must be on‐leash if sport is occurring in the reserve. The site should be closely monitored by Council’s AMOs and Community, Sport and Recreation officers so that if use of the site as an overflow soccer ground intensifies, the future of the off‐leash function may be reassessed if necessary. If, in future, the off‐leash area must be discontinued, an alternative off‐leash site should be developed nearby so that dog owners are not displaced, and are still provided adequate opportunity to exercise their dogs off‐
leash locally. Bollards should be installed along the boundaries of this off‐leash area to provide visual definition to this off‐leash area and discourage dog owners from entering the conservation / revegetation areas. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure and investigate and address site drainage issues (if any). As the proposed off‐leash site is perceived to be associated with anti‐social behaviour, the area should be closely monitored by Council’s AMOs. It is also likely that activating this area with a legitimate use and increasing its utilisation will contribute to community safety through increased passive surveillance (in accordance with CPTED principles). It is proposed to establish a new dog off‐leash area at Robert Booth Reserve to the west of the two baseball diamonds. Additional fencing is required to provide an adequate barrier to the existing baseball diamonds and playground. This site must be accompanied by clear signage indicating that dogs must be on‐leash if sports are occurring in the reserve. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure. It is proposed to shrink the off‐leash area so that it is contained to one side of the shared user path. Fencing is required to provide an adequate barrier to the shared user path, with bollards installed along the boundary to the north. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure. Noble Park North Barry J. Powell Reserve 1.3 hectares It is proposed to establish an off‐leash area at Barry J. Powell Reserve to the west of the main sports oval and to the north of the Community Centre. The off‐leash area is clearly defined by a marked change in topography, which minimises the need for additional fencing. This reserve is already popular among dog owners. Formalising an off‐leash area will assist AMOs in enforcement and could improve compliance as it may deter owners from letting their dogs off‐leash in the sports ovals. This off‐leash area should be accompanied by clear signage indicating that dogs must be on‐leash if sports are occurring in the reserve. 0.26 hectares It is proposed to establish a new dog off‐leash area at Leon Trembath Reserve to the south of Ronald Avenue. Its establishment will require the relocation of the existing local level playground and the installation of fencing along the boundaries to provide an adequate barrier to the adjacent roads, bike track and relocated playground. 1.8 hectares The existing dog off‐leash area should be relocated to the north of Mile Creek. The site will require fencing along the south‐eastern boundary to provide an adequate barrier to the nearby local level playground. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure (which should also consider the potential expansion of the sports facilities in the park and the upgrading of the Flynn Street car park). Noble Park Leon Trembath Reserve Springvale Warner Reserve 27
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Reserve Area Proposal Springvale South 15.9 hectares The existing dog off‐leash area should be maintained. The location and size of this off‐leash area may be reassessed in future as part of the development of the Spring Valley Reserve Master Plan. Roth Hetherington Reserve 0.2 hectares Frederick Wachter Reserve 0.90 hectares Consistent with the reserve’s classification as a passive recreation park, it is proposed to establish a dog off‐leash area at Roth Hetherington Reserve. It is already a popular park among dog owners, and it hoped that formalising an off‐leash area will encourage greater compliance with the leash rules. Moreover, its establishment may relieve pressure from Frederick Wachter Reserve, which is one of the most popular and heavily used off‐leash areas in the City. Bollards are required along the tree line to prevent dogs from entering this area. A concept plan should be developed to guide the installation of ancillary infrastructure. It is proposed to continue maintaining the existing dog off‐leash area. As already noted, the bag dispenser should be removed to ensure a consistent policy to waste removal across the dog off‐leash network. Faoro Reserve 0.7 hectares Tatterson Park TBA Spring Valley Reserve Keysborough It is proposed to establish a dog off‐leash area at Faoro Reserve until such a time that an off‐
leash site can be selected and established in Tatterson Park. This temporary off‐leash area will incur minimal capital cost to Council and will provide an opportunity for Keysborough residents, south of Cheltenham Road, to exercise their dog/s off‐leash locally. This local pocket park is highly accessible with multiple entries via three cul de sacs with ample car parking to the north of the park. It is envisaged that Tatterson Park will play a critical role in Council’s municipal dog off‐leash network in future; however, the identification of a dog off‐leash site and it’s establishment will occur as part of a separate open space planning process – the Implementation of the Tatterson Park Master Plan. 4.2
Supporting the Expansion of the Dog off‐Leash Network 4.2.1
The Provision of Ancillary Infrastructure A greater focus on ancillary infrastructure is required to support the off‐leash areas and encourage compliance with Council’s local laws and orders. The Open Space Strategy (2009) provides comprehensive Park Development Standards to guide the provision of infrastructure and facilities across the open space network, generally adopting an approach that the larger the catchment the park serves, the greater number of facilities and activities the park will contain. Dog off‐leash areas can be viewed to serve local, neighbourhood and district catchments (and in some cases, regional, as residents from neighbouring Councils may frequent the City’s off‐leash areas). Moreover, the type of infrastructure typically provided is targeted to a specific user group (dog owners) and supplied to minimise conflict with adjacent park activities and encourage compliance with Council local laws and Orders. As such, they require their own development standards. Generally, priority infrastructure will be provided at all off‐leash areas as they are being established, to ensure the successful operation of the area and minimise potential conflict with other park activities or park users. A concept plan will be developed for each off‐leash area to guide the provision of priority infrastructure. Over time, this will be accompanied with secondary infrastructure as part of a broader park improvement project, which extends beyond the off‐leash area to the entire park. This secondary infrastructure will improve the amenity and comfort for dog owners and park users, but is not 28
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy necessary to make the off‐leash area viable. These park improvement projects, which will guide the provision of secondary infrastructure, will take into account community feedback received from this consultation period, with suggested improvements addressed through the planning, design and implementation stages. Figure 9 outlines the Dog off‐Leash Development Standards which clearly outlines the weighting between priority and secondary infrastructure. Figure 9: Dog off-Leash Development Standards
Priority Infrastructure Secondary Infrastructure 



Signage: ○ Educational Signage (detailing the off/on leash rules and a map illustrating the location of the off‐leash area). ○ Combined Perimeter “off/on‐Leash” signage and “Pick up after your dog signage” Bin If required, fencing/bollards to define the boundaries of an off‐leash area. 


Signage: ○ Directional/way finding signage Seating Walking Path Combined drinking fountains and dog drinking bowls. 4.2.2
Community Awareness – Promotion and Notification Many of the community concerns raised earlier in relation to the management and control of dogs in public space are not necessarily related to particular sites’ designation as off‐leash; but the broader issue of responsible pet ownership and compliance with Council’s local laws and orders. Critical to the success of the off‐leash areas is the need to promote responsible pet ownership and educate dog owners of their responsibilities when managing their dogs in the public realm. During the consultation period, residents were asked if information about the City’s dog off‐leash areas and rules is easy to find on the Council website and at Council offices. While 37% of survey respondents indicated that information was easily accessible, 47% responded that they weren’t sure with a further 16% stating that this information was not easy to find. Residents suggested a range of communication tools to improve community education and awareness of the dog off‐leash rules and area including the following methods: 
Mailing information about the off‐leash areas directly to dog owners with the annual dog registration renewal notices. Moreover, dog owners that provide their email address as part of the dog registration renewal process could be emailed e‐newsletters and updates about the on / off‐leash areas and regulations; 
Increasing the amount of information about the City’s off‐leash areas on the Greater Dandenong Council website. Particularly, including maps of each off‐leash area, their size and the facilities they contain (such as fencing, walking paths, bins, trees etc.); 
Supplying dog off‐leash brochures or fact sheets to local veterinarians; 
Making greater use of local media; and 
Improving the dog on/off‐leash signage in the City’s parks. Council’s DAMP already outlines a comprehensive educational program designed to encourage responsible pet ownership via a range of mediums including Council’s webpage, printed educational materials, displays in public areas such as shopping precincts, events (such as the City’s Micro‐
chipping days), Council’s annual Pet News and so on. As such, Council’s off‐leash educational materials and initiatives fit within this broader community education program for animal management. 29
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy This Strategy complements those approaches by raising community awareness of the establishment of further off‐leash sites, the location and boundaries of off‐leash areas, and reminding residents, park users and dog owners of their individual rights and responsibilities in relation to the management of dogs in the public realm generally and in off‐leash areas specifically. This multi pronged campaign should involve the following elements: In‐Park Promotion/Education Materials 
Council’s dog off‐ and on‐leash signage. As Dog off‐Leash Areas are Established 
Notification to immediately surrounding residents prior to the establishment of a new off‐leash area. 
’Opening day’ events such as BBQ mornings so that AMOs can be in parks to answer any queries from dog owners or surrounding residents. 
Media releases, Pet News, articles in The City and updating the Greater Dandenong Website to notify residents of changes to the off‐leash network as they occur and promote responsible pet ownership and compliance with Council’s local laws and orders; Other Promotional Materials 
Printed (and online) Dog off‐leash Areas brochures / fact sheets at Council’s customer service centres, (and adjoining Councils). 
Greater Dandenong Council Website As discussed earlier, it is proposed to develop new ’dog signage’ concepts to re‐brand the City’s off‐
leash areas and ensure that the locations of the off‐leash areas, the responsibilities of dog owners and the off‐leash rules can be more easily understood. It is expected that this, in combination with the initiatives listed above and Council’s broader community education program for animal management, will encourage greater compliance with the local leash laws and assist Residential Amenity in advocating responsible dog ownership. Moreover, well located, easy to read, effective signage can sometimes be used to clearly delineate which areas are on‐ or off‐leash, which may counter the need for extensive fencing. Finally, redesigning Council’s signage will improve the amenity and attractiveness of the City’s parks by providing a consistent approach to dog signage throughout the City. While a concept plan for each off‐leash area will be prepared prior to their establishment, broadly, all off‐leash areas should include: 
Perimeter off‐ / on‐ leash signage: To advise dog owners, cyclists and other park users of the boundaries of an off‐leash area. The number of perimeter signs installed will vary at each off‐
leash area depending on the size and shape of the site. 
Educational signage: To advise dog owners and park users of the rules that apply in a dog off‐
leash area as well the roles and responsibilities of dog owners. Educational signage also includes a map illustrating the location and boundaries of the dog off‐leash area relative to other park activities. Typically, these should be placed at the primary entrances of an off‐leash area. 
“Pick up after your dog” messages/images: To advise dog owners that they are required to pick up after their dog and dispose of all waste. These messages /images should be incorporated into the perimeter and educational signage. 
Way finding / directional signage: To be placed at the major entrances of large parks to advise all park users that there is an off‐leash area in the reserve, and to assist dog owners and other park users in locating the off‐leash area within the park. Dog on‐leash’ signage for on‐leash parks should also be developed. However, use of this type of signage should be targeted to parks with high levels of non‐compliance and parks adjacent to other municipalities (as other Councils have taken different policy approaches, such as the City of Casey which has deemed every park as off‐leash unless explicitly excluded). The danger of randomly and 30
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy excessively applying this signage across the open space network is that dog owners can claim that they let their dog off‐leash because of the absence of on‐leash signage. When installing new signage, use of Council’s new public bin signage sleeves should be investigated. They are a particularly cost effective means of communicating off‐leash rules and responsibilities to residents and park users without having to blanket the City’s parks with signs. 4.2.3
Enforcement Residential Amenity currently enforces legislation in relation to animal management and general amenity within the municipality and promotes responsible pet ownership. Substantial changes to the off‐leash network must appreciate the impact that this will have on the capacity of the Residential Amenity Unit to enforce the off‐leash rules and orders. From an enforcement perspective, increasing the number of off‐leash areas across the City has a number of advantages including: 
Dog off‐leash areas are typically frequented by responsible dog owners and reduces incidence of non‐compliance with Council’s leash laws and orders at on‐leash parks. A greater AMO presence is generally required in the City’s on‐leash parks, where irresponsible dog owners fail to comply with the leash laws and orders and generate conflict with other park users and incompatible activities. Accordingly, increasing the number of parks with off‐leash areas actually assists AMOs as it reduces the incidence of non compliance and directs off‐leash activity to more appropriate locations. 
The undersupply of off‐leash areas in a municipality actually makes it more difficult to enforce the leash laws, as dog owners cannot be directed to nearby off‐leash areas. Moreover, it is easier to take enforcement action for non‐compliance with the leash laws if there are nearby designated off‐leash areas that people could and should be using. 
If Council’s AMOs need to engage with dog owners about animal management issues or initiatives, they can go to off‐leash areas to reach their target audience and talk to them face‐to‐
face. As such, far from placing a burden on Council’s AMOs, the expansion of the off‐leash network should actually assist them in achieving their objectives in respect of animal owner behaviour. 31
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 5 Dog off‐Leash Strategy Action Plan This Action Plan outlines a series of actions and initiatives to expand the dog off‐leash network and ensure their appropriate support through the provision of ancillary infrastructure, community education and enforcement. Specifically, this Action Plan aims to achieve the following objectives: Objectives: 
To provide a greater number of appropriately located off‐leash areas that are more equitably distributed across the City. 
To support the expansion of the Dog off‐Leash Network and the implementation of this Strategy by: ○
Providing infrastructure in parks that meet the needs of dog owners and park users. ○
Publicising the new dog off‐leash sites and promoting responsible dog ownership through an intensive community awareness campaign ○
Reducing confusion regarding the boundaries and locations of off‐leash areas; and ○
Encouraging greater compliance with Council’s relevant local laws and Orders. 
To provide adequate ongoing capital funding for the establishment and ongoing operation of dog off‐leash areas. 
To increase the capacity of Residential Amenity to advocate for responsible pet ownership and enforce relevant local laws and Orders 5.1
Action Plan 1: Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan The Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan (Figure 10) prioritises the expansion of the off‐leash network and the provision of infrastructure in existing and proposed dog off‐leash areas. This Action Plan ensures that these redevelopments are appropriately sequenced so that they occur in accordance with their priority ranking. The development of a priority list also assists in making budget funding submissions under Council’s City Improvement Program. 32
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Figure 10 – Dog off-Leash Network Development Plan
Priority 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reserve Barry J. Powell Reserve (Noble Park North) Fotheringham Reserve (Dandenong) Area 1.3 hectares Lois Twohig Reserve (Dandenong North) Frederick Wachter Reserve (Keysborough) Spring Valley Reserve (Springvale South) Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North) 1.36 hectares 0.90 hectares 0.7 hectares 15.9 hectares 0.79 hectares. Proposal Priority Infrastructure Required 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 Establish proposed off‐leash area ‐ 
6 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $600 Prepare concept plan and install 
1 bin at $1500 each. priority infrastructure. Shrink the off‐leash area so that it is 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 
6 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $600 contained on side of the shared user path ‐ Prepare concept plan and install  1 bin at $1500 each. 
175 metres of fencing at $200 per metre = $35,000 priority infrastructure 
40 metres of bollards =$420 Retain existing dog off‐leash areas and  1 bin at $1500 each. install bins as appropriate. Prepare a concept plan for each reserve to 
1 bin at $1500 each. inform provision of secondary infrastructure. 
2 bins at $1500 each = $3,000. Relocate existing dog off‐leash area ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 6 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $600 1 bin at $1500 each. 92 metres of fencing along the bike tack at $200 per metre = $18,400 132 metres of bollards along the northern boundary = $1,375 2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 3 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $300 1 bin at $1500 each. 1 Educational Signs at $1,700 each 4 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $400 1 bin at $1500 each. 256 metres of bollards = $2,665 2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 3 Perimeter Signs and Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $300 1 bin at $1500 each 



7 8 Faoro Reserve (Keysborough) 0.7 hectares Greaves Reserve (Dandenong) 0.6 hectares Establish proposed off‐leash area ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. Establish proposed off‐leash area ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 






9 Roth Hetherington Reserve (Keysborough) 0.2 hectares Establish proposed off‐leash area ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 


33
Estimated Cost $5,500 $40,920 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000 $25,275 $5,200 $6,265 $5,620 City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Priority Reserve Area Proposal 10 Robert Booth 1.4 Reserve (Dandenong) hectares Establish proposed off‐leash area ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 11 Warner Reserve (Springvale) 1.8 hectares Relocate existing dog off‐leash area – Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 12 Leon Trembath Reserve (Noble Park) 0.26 hectares Establish proposed off‐leash area and relocate the existing local level playground ‐ Prepare concept plan and install priority infrastructure. 13 Tatterson Park (Keysborough) TBA The identification of a dog off‐leash site and its establishment will occur as part of the implementation of the Tatterson Park Master Plan. TOTAL Priority Infrastructure Required 
40 metres of bollards = $420 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 
5 Perimeter Signs / Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $500 
1 bin at $1500 each. 
160 metres of fencing at $200 per metre = $32,000 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 
5 Perimeter Signs / Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $500 
1 bin at $1500 each. 
73 metres of fencing at $200 per metre = $14,600 
2 Educational Signs at $1,700 each = $3,400 
4 Perimeter Signs / Pick up after your Dog sign at $100 each = $400 
1 bin at $1500 each. 
52 metres of new fencing at $200 per metre = $10,400 
105 metres of black PVC chain wire infill to existing fencing at $100 per metre = $10,500 
Relocation of local playground = $20,000 TBA Estimated Cost TBA $198,380 $37,400 $20,000 $46,200 Notes to the Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan: 
This Development Plan is subject to annual review and adjustment as part of the CIP process. The above budgets and priorities are recommendations only, which will necessarily have to be balanced against other projects in the CIP. The costs shown on the above table are in 2011 dollars and it is envisaged that they would be adjusted annually in accordance with CPI. 
The signage costs outlined above only refer to costs related to the manufacturing and installation of signage. It does not include the cost of signage design, which is addressed in the Dog off‐Leash Promotion and Education Program below. 
Estimated costs relate to priority infrastructure items only and are subject to the detail design of each off‐leash area 
The off‐leash areas identified above may be re‐evaluated and subject to change as part of future master planning processes for each reserve or as demand for particular uses and activities at each reserve change over time. 34
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 5.2
Action Plan 2: Promotion and Community Education The expansion of the off‐leash network must be supported by an intensive promotional and educational campaign around the off‐leash areas and responsible pet ownership. Council’s Regulatory Services Department already undertakes a comprehensive community education campaign around animal management and responsible pet ownership (including micro‐chipping, dog registration etc.). Accordingly, the actions outlined in the following Dog off‐Leash Promotion and Education Program (outlined in Figure 11) are limited to those specific to the dog off‐leash areas, including the development of new dog signage, notifying residents of changes to the off‐leash network as they occur and increasing community awareness around the dog off‐leash rules and the responsibilities of dog owners in off‐leash areas and the public open space network more broadly. Figure 11: Dog off-Leash Promotion and Education Program
Initiative In Park Promotional / Educational Material Council’s Dog off‐ and on‐leash signage ‐ Design Council’s Dog off‐ and on‐leash signage‐ Installation Responsibility Resources Required RAU Project Delivery / Park Services Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). These costs have been outlined above in the Dog off‐Leash Network Development Program. Community Notification Protocol [The timing of these initiatives will occur in conjunction with the establishment of a new dog off‐leash area]. Notification to immediately surrounding residents RAU Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). “Opening day” event s such as BBQ mornings so that AMOs can be in parks RAU Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). to answer any queries from dog owners or surrounding residents. Updating of Council’s Website, media release and articles in The City and RAU Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). Pet News to advise residents of change so the off‐leash network. Other Promotional Material Printed (and online) Dog off‐leash Areas brochures at Council’s customer RAU Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). service offices, (and adjoining Councils) – Design and Printing Increasing the amount of information about the dog off‐leash areas and RAU Nil. (Can be absorbed within Council’s existing resources and staff capacity). off‐leash rules on the Greater Dandenong Council Website. 35
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 5.3
Financial Implications Council has allocated $55,000 in the City Improvement Program for dog off‐leash infrastructure for the 2011‐2012 financial year, which is sufficient to fund priorities 1 to 5 (the establishment of a new off‐leash area at Barry J. Powell Reserve, shrinking the off‐leash area at Fotheringham Reserve and installing new infrastructure at Lois Twohig Reserve, Frederick Wachter Reserve and Spring Valley Reserve). Additional funds will need to be set aside in the following financial year (2012‐2013) to further expand the off‐leash network and implement the Strategy at the City of Greater Dandenong as outlined in this Strategy and Action Plans. Accordingly, the implementation of this Strategy and the establishment of additional off‐leash areas will be a staged process incrementally implemented over a number of years. There are a number of cost implications that can be broken into the two broad categories of establishment and management: Establishment Costs: 
Dog off‐Leash infrastructure costs (signage, fencing and bins – all outlined and prioritised above), amounting to a total CIP expenditure of $198,380. (Note; this only includes costs for installing priority infrastructure. The provision of secondary infrastructure is not incorporated into this program). 
Promotional costs (such as the development of off‐leash brochures, development of new signage design, updating the Council web page, regular articles in the City, use of local media and letter drops to residents) will all be addressed in the annual operating budget of Council’s Residential Amenity Unit which included provision for such community education initiatives in the DAMP. Management costs (additional to usual park maintenance): 
Patrolling the off‐leash areas and general park network by Council’s AMOs ‐ this activity can be accommodated within existing resources of the Residential Amenity Unit. 
Replacement/repair of signs, fencing and bins from time to time – which can be accommodated in the City’s Asset Renewal Program. 
Ongoing maintenance of brochure and website information (which can be accommodated within existing resources and budgets). Ongoing management costs are more difficult to quantify then establishment costs, as they may be able to be contained within existing day to day operations. It is expected that management and maintenance costs will be monitored and reported upon annually as this Strategy is reviewed. This implementation plan will be subject to review and adjustment annually at the time of CIP development. While it recommends that the budget allocations to provide adequate infrastructure to support the off‐leash network remain closely linked with the costs outlined in the Dog off‐Leash Network Development Plan, this expenditure program will need to be balanced against other Council projects and commitments. 5.4
Policy Implications Council currently has an Order in place that requires all dogs in the public realm to be on‐leash unless in a designated off‐leash area. This order also enables Council to amend the off‐leash network by specifying further off‐leash or dog prohibited areas or modifying existing off‐leash areas, via a Council resolution. In order to implement this Strategy, a Council resolution is required to specify changes to the off‐leash network in accordance with the proposals contained in Figures 8 and 10 and Appendix 1 36
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy and to facilitate the termination of the Police Paddocks dog off leash area. Parks Victoria and the City of Casey will be notified of the termination of the Police Paddocks dog off‐leash area. Council’s off‐leash rules and general policies pertaining to the presence of dogs in public open space (stipulated on Council’s website and outlined in this Strategy on pages 3‐4) will remain unchanged and continue to be enforced by Council officers. The activities and initiatives set out in the above Action Plan, and the regular monitoring of the off‐
leash sites will be reviewed each year as part of Council’s DAMP planning process and the annual business planning of Regulatory Services. This will ensure continued CIP and operational funding to support the expansion of the off‐leash network and the implementation of this Strategy. 37
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Appendix 1: Proposed Dog off‐Leash Areas 38
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy The proposed dog off‐leash areas, fencing and bollards outlined in the maps below are indicative only and may be subject to review and adjustment as part of the detail design for each area. Tirhatuan Park Dandenong North Lois Twohig Reserve 39
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Dandenong Greaves Reserve Robert Booth Reserve 40
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Noble Park North Fotheringham Reserve Barry J. Powell Reserve 41
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Noble Park Springvale Warner Reserve Leon Trembath Reserve 42
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Springvale South Keysborough Spring Valley Reserve Roth Hetherington Reserve 43
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy Frederick Wachter Reserve Faoro Reserve Tatterson Park It is envisaged that Tatterson Park will play a critical role in Council’s municipal dog off‐leash network in future, however, the identification of a dog off‐leash site and it’s establishment will occur as part of a separate open space planning process – the Implementation of the Tatterson Park Master Plan 44
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With thanks to everyone who consulted or contributed to the development of this strategy, particularly: 
Residents, park users, sports clubs and community organisations that provided submissions or completed surveys for Council’s consideration. 
Greater Dandenong Council staff: For further information, please contact: Urban & Open Space Planning City of Greater Dandenong PO Box 200 DANDENONG 3175 


Development Services: Mal Baker, Jody Bosman, Peter Shelton, Jane Brodie, Richard Asquith, Josh Campbell, Dana Mizrachi Engineering Services: Michael Smith, Philip Robertson, Maree Keenan, Gavin Roberts Community Services: Lynette While, John Weeks, Andrew George, Lee Robson, Dona Macik 45
City of Greater Dandenong Dog off‐Leash Strategy 46