Off-leash dog parks proposal

Project background

We have seen significant growth in dog ownership over the last year; due in part to COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as changed rental laws that now allow for tenants to own dogs. As a result, we are looking to increase the number of off-leash areas to better accommodate for the increase in animals.

Open space is at a premium in the City of Melbourne. With a burgeoning human and dog population, we need to learn to live together and share our open space. Exercising your dog is an important part of responsible dog ownership, and the City of Melbourne supports this need with existing off-leash areas.

Off-leash spaces: There are currently nine dog off-leash areas available and we have identified eight potential new spaces that were nominated by the community, along with City of Melbourne’s park rangers, animal management, open space planning and green infrastructure teams.
Timed access: We know that not everyone is comfortable sharing spaces with dogs, so timed off-leash access may be the way for all park users to share our open spaces. This model is currently being used by the City of Melbourne at sports ovals, and other councils have also applied this model across a variety of parks with great success.
Dog facilities: The placement of dog waste bag dispensers and dog water bowls has largely been dictated by where large numbers of dogs are observed to be walked on a regular basis. We are currently reviewing the number and location of these facilities.
Fences: No permanent fencing for off-leash areas is proposed as part of these changes, with the exception of Eades Park.
Signage: All off-leash areas will have signs indicating off-leash areas. These will be installed when budget permits.

Following recent community consultation, we have refined our list of proposed off-leash places for dogs. Off-leash places for dogs will ideally contain assets such as rubbish bins with dog waste bag dispensers and drinking fountains with dog bowls - these take time to purchase and install. Off-leash places must also be gazetted (published in the Victorian Government Gazette), which also takes time.

The municipality currently has 16ha set aside for off-leash use which is equivalent to eight MCGs. There are about 41,284m² proposed off-leash areas, or just over two MCGs. This is a 25 per cent increase in dog off-leash areas.

Proposed new off-leash dog parks

Find out more about the features of each of the parks. See detailed maps of each area below.

Eastern half of sports field. 500 Docklands Drive, Docklands

6000m²

The off-leash area is the eastern half of the sports field. Investigation of the land behind the pavilion (proposed for off-leash use) has revealed that it is earmarked for development with Development Victoria. There is street lighting.

Need to install a drinking fountain with a dog bowl in the south-eastern corner when budget permits. A rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser has recently been installed.
Current signage is okay. Blade signs have a map and clearly mark off-leash area.
Timed access model is ‘no off-leash use while sport is in progress’ - otherwise 24 hours.

95 The Crescent, Kensington

7870m²

The proposed area is surrounded by the footpath and there is lighting on the periphery.

There is already a drinking fountain with a dog bowl present, as well as a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser.
Timed access.

23-57 Murchison Street, Carlton

3767m²

As dog off-leash use is not proposed at Carlton Gardens North, this park will provide off-leash use for Carlton residents. It has two park lights.

The park already has a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser but a drinking fountain with a dog bowl would need to be installed as budget allows.
A National Trust heritage overlay influences the type of improvements that council can implement in this park.
Timed access.

Wellington Parade South, East Melbourne

8799m²

Beside the railway line has lots of seats and lights.

Park already has a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser but a drinking fountain with a dog bowl would need to be installed as budget allows
Park is fenced on the northern boundary with the railway line.
Timed access.

104 Lorimer Street, Docklands

4623m²

The turfed area to the east of the public toilet, but not the playground. It has lights on the western and northern boundaries.

There is already a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser but a drinking fountain with a dog bowl would need to be installed subject to budget.
Timed access.

372-376 King Street, West Melbourne

2224m²

As dog off-leash use is not proposed at Flagstaff Gardens, this park will provide off-leash use for West Melbourne residents. There are six park lights and five streetlights adjacent.

There is a cyclone wire mesh fence along King Street so we will install temporary fencing beside the central path to trial this triangular area for 12 months. Park already has a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser but a drinking fountain with a dog bowl would need to be installed subject to budget.
If the trial is a success, we will either make the fence permanent or consider redesigning the park to incorporate an off-leash area.
Timed access.

192-216 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne

1762m²

This park is recommended for use for small dogs only.

The park has four street lights on the Macaulay Road side.

It would need a drinking fountain with a dog bowl installed, as well as a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser as budget permits. It would also need seating.
Timed access.

Manningham Street, Parkville

5542 m²

We are considering the junior – southernmost – oval which is fenced on three sides and has lights on the entrance road adjacent

The park already has a rubbish bin with a dog waste bag dispenser nearby, but a drinking fountain with a dog bowl would need to be installed subject to budget.
Timed access model is ‘no off-leash use while sport is in progress’ - otherwise 24 hours.

672m²

The park is under construction with an expected completion of late November. It will have 24 hours access.

401 Flinders Street, Melbourne

Since initial community consultation when this area was first identified it has been decided that it may be affected by future Greenline Park/road removal works. This will not be considered for dog off-leash use at this stage.