This evening I sent my submission on the draft off-leash dog guidelines to Council, as well as to each of the Mayor and Councillors:

As someone with a career in local government, in elected roles (Mayor and Councillor, Maroondah City Council) I have been thoroughly disappointed in Council’s handling of this issue. 

While dog access is a challenging issue for any Council, it is imperative to act in a manner that seeks to inform and unite diverse voices within the community.

Instead, the process has sown division and failed to consider future, let alone current requirements.  Balancing community needs within public space is not easy, but as a general principle Council should seek to provide a diverse range of uses, including dog off-leash access, across its open space network and not aim to impose further restrictions.

Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (2022-2025) identified:

• 22.5% of respondents said there are too few off leash areas and would like more;
• 19.1% of respondents would like more fenced dog areas.

Yet these findings are not reflected in the Dog off Leash Guidelines.

Furthermore, dog ownership and the need for off-leash areas in Port Phillip is likely to increase due:

• Forecast population growth in the municipality.
• Densification leading to smaller households and increased pet ownership.
• Changes to rental laws that enable renters (approximately 51% of Port Phillip’s households) to have pets as of right during tenancies.

In summary: 

• Overall, the Guidelines infer a hierarchy of use exists with public open space and that dogs are at the bottom this hierarchy. Such inference is not suitable given that such policy should be informed through Council’s Public Space Strategy – not usage guidelines.
• The Guidelines fail to enhance dog off-leash areas within the City of Port Phillip and does not address current and future needs.
• Council has not identified how it will assess demand to determine new dog off-leash areas that may be required and has not been informed by benchmarks comparing itself to other comparable municipalities.

Therefore Council must not proceed with the Guidelines in their current form with further community engagement required.

I trust that Council will review this current process and substantially revise the Dog Off-leash Guidelines as they are not acceptable in their current form. 

 Should Council be undertaking public hearings on the draft submission, then I request to speak before Council on this matter.