Pasterfield Reserve in Cameron Park, Catherine Hill Bay Beach and Myuna Bay Foreshore Reserve are shaping up to be the next ulti-mutt dog parks.
The trio is among 10 new Lake Macquarie locations set to be home to off-leash dog exercise areas following extensive community consultation conducted earlier this year.
Keen to seek feedback on other locations, the council launched its second round of consultation this week.
The proposal includes alterations to another 21 off-leash areas across Lake Macquarie, with council hoping to address any potential conflict with other activities or the environment.
Proposed changes include adjusting boundaries and changing time restrictions, while two sites – Pendlebury Park at Bonnells Bay and Bernie Goodwin Oval at Morisset – could be relocated to more suitable spots nearby.
A further seven sites have no proposed changes.
Council’s section manager community assets Brendan Callander said the proposed changes were in direct response to a suitability assessment completed for each site, and community feedback collected earlier this year.
“We had over 800 responses to our first round of consultation, which really shows the passion and interest regarding dogs in open spaces in Lake Mac,” he explained.
“That hasn’t just come from dog owners. It’s also people using these various areas who might interact with dogs. Sometimes that’s a positive interaction, other times perhaps not so much, and we need to take all of that into account.”
Feedback from the latest round will help finalise the draft Dogs in Open Space Strategy, expected to be placed on exhibition later this year.
The strategy will provide the framework for future planning and management of dog off-leash areas including prioritising infrastructure and outlining where dogs are allowed off-leash, and where they are prohibited.
Lake Macquarie is home to more than 92,000 registered dogs – one of the highest ownership rates in NSW.
Mayor Kay Fraser says any future plans needed to suit wider community needs.
“Lake Mac loves dogs, but with our growing population, smaller living spaces and finite open space, we need to have the right plans in place to keep them happy and healthy,” she said.
“We’ve also got to balance those needs with what the wider community needs, expects and desires.”
Council currently provides 30 dog facilities across Lake Mac, from fenced, formalised dog parks to shared off-leash areas on a number of beaches, suburban and lake foreshore reserves.
Drop-in sessions will be held across the city as part of the latest round of consultation, with feedback sought before 22 August.