DOG owners are calling for more off-leash exercise areas in Sutherland Shire.
Miranda resident Denisa Kozma led the call, which comes after she was verbally abused for walking her German shepherd, Georgina, on-leash in the F6 corridor in Miranda Park.
Mrs Kozma started a petition to have part of the the F6 corridor at Miranda declared an official off-leash exercise area.
She has collected 200 signatures to date.
Mrs Kozma got her dog just over a year ago and started taking her to the park with her two children, Emma, 5, and Sarah, 7.
‘‘Recently, the park has gotten busier with gym boot champs and runners and I was verbally abused by a man who was training there for walking my dog, even though she was on a leash,’’ she said.
‘‘I told him that dogs need exercise too. He approached other dog owners as well.
‘‘Since, then, I’ve noticed the rangers have stepped up their patrols of the park.
‘‘Dog owners have been walking their dogs off-leash in this area for 30 years and there are no clear signs to say otherwise.
‘‘Our council area has more dogs, a lower density population and more vacant land than Sydney City or Waverley council areas and yet we have much fewer places for dogs to exercise and socialise.’’
‘‘In Sutherland Shire we only have a small dog off-leash area in Kirrawee and Como, plus Wanda beach for limited hours.
‘‘Dogs need to socialise too. They can’t do that on a leash.
‘‘If they find a dog they don’t like they can’t get away. They get anxious and get tangled up in their lead.
‘‘We find it unacceptable that responsible dog owners, who spent a lot of time training their dogs in obedience and recall, have to travel far and wide to let their dog run and play.
‘‘There are so many small reserves in the area which would be suitable. We are asking the council to consider some of these as dog off-leash areas.
‘‘The F6 reserve could also be a dog off-leash area because it is large and central and not a sporting ground where you feel you would be intruding on other people.’’
‘‘Why can’t we share a little piece of land. The problem is when the other side won’t compromise. It’s like having leprosy to have a dog.’’
Mrs Kozma recommends the website doggo.com.au to find suitable parks and beaches to exercise dogs.
$200K COST TO LET DOGS RUN FREE
A dog off-leash area suggested for The Ridge Sporting Complex at Barden Ridge would cost an estimated $200,000, which includes fencing, pathways, seating, planting and picnic facilities.
A Sutherland Shire Council report proposed using an unused one-hectare parcel of land on the western side of the sporting complex as a fenced off-leash area.
The council’s parks and recreation unit receive regular requests for more dog off-leash areas. There are no off-leash area in the western part of the shire.
The Barden Ridge Sporting Complex is considered suitable as infrastructure, including parking, is already in place and the nominated land is unsuitable to be developed as sporting fields.
It is used to train police dogs and is large enough to have separate areas for large and small dogs.
The proposal is due to be discussed at the June 24 council meeting.
Should there be more dog off-leash areas in the shire and, if so, where?
