For many Lane Cove dog owners, the perfect afternoon involves a furry friend by their side. Many head to off-leash dog parks (five or which are, in fact, Lane Cove sports grounds). Is it possible to maintain the integrity of the sports field if dog owners fail to clean up after their dogs or allow their dogs to dig holes?
As of December 2023, 7409 dogs were microchipped in the Lane Cove Local Government Area. According to .id (a demographic data company), the 2023 Estimated Resident Population for the Lane Cove Council area was 41,549, with a population density of 3,964 persons per square km.
Dog Holes and Dog Excrement Audit
The Lane Cove Council, at its May Meeting, will be reviewing an audit prepared by Lane Cove Council staff of damage done to sports fields by dogs.
The audit was done every Friday, an audit was not done every Saturday or Sunday to see if any damage was done to the sportsfields during organised sports.
The report also includes information obtained by Rangers.
“Over a 4-month period Council’s Rangers were keeping records of their patrols which were mainly undertaken at Blackman Park. During weekdays, these patrols were undertaken between 5:00pm and 7:00pm and on weekends, the patrols were during the day. For the 4 month period 58 patrols were completed and 27 offences were recorded and verbal warnings were issued in these instances. Of the recorded offences only 7 related to dogs being on the sports fields.
Anecdotally, Council’s Rangers have commented that 95% of dog walkers are doing the right thing, 4% are not following the rules but are not causing any issues and 1% are not following the rules and their dogs are causing issues.”
Lane Cove Council Second Highest Number of Off Leash Dog Areas
The report also notes that Lane Cove has the second-highest number of off-leash dog areas out of the NSROC councils.
“The Lane Cove LGA provides the second highest number of off-leash dog areas out of all the NSROC councils. Lane Cove has 19 off-leash dog areas:
- 6 of which are sports fields;
- 2 are purpose built fully enclosed dog areas – Blackman Park and Turrumburra Park;
- 11 are in parks.
This equates to 2,133 residents per off-leash dog area while the NSROC average is 6,382 residents per off-leash dog area.
All these councils have reported that they are experiencing the same issues relating to dogs that are being experienced in Lane Cove, i.e. holes and excrement and they all provide soil for people to repair their dog’s holes.”
Sports Field and Dog in Other North Shore LGA’s
The council briefing paper sets out the rules in the other northern sydney council area.
“Council has liaised with our NSROC councils to establish whether they allow dogs on their sports fields and if they have similar issues to ones occurring in Lane Cove:
- Hornsby Council only allows off-leash dog walking on 2 sports fields
- Mosman Council does not allow dogs on sports fields
- Ku-ring-gai Council allows dogs off-leash on 10 of its sports fields
- North Sydney Council allows dogs off-leash on all of its sports fields except North Sydney Oval & St Leonards Oval
- Ryde Council allows dogs off-leash on some sports fields
- Willoughby Council allows dogs off-leash on some of its sports fields”
What is Lane Cove Council Proposing to Solve the Issue?
This agenda item’s briefing paper recommends the following action by Lane Cove Council:
“Undertake community consultation to seek suggestions for solutions to manage the conflicts which arise from the use of sports fields for sport and as a dog off-leash area.”
The briefing paper does not outline any suggestions on how the conflict could be resolved.
It is unusual to ask for suggestions rather than provide some form of concrete solution and then seek consultation.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinets’ best practice guidance note for consultation states:
“Consultation should be used as a way to improve decisions, not as a substitute for making decisions.”
The council briefing papers do not mention whether the survey results have been tabled at the Lane Cove Dog Advisory Committee (a member of the sports advisory committee sits on this committee).
Bob Campbell Oval
Lane Cove Council signalled its possible intention to remove dogs from sporting ovals when the Bob Campbell Oval masterplan was discussed. The following was included in the agenda papers:
“Specifically, it is proposed to modify the design to replace the playground at the northern end with an off-leash dog facility. This change will also require the modification of the southern playground area to cater for all age groups.
A specific off-leash dog facility is recommended given the standard of turf field being constructed. The costs submitted for the natural turf sportsfield component are over $1M. In comparison, Council spent $500k to upgrade two turf sportsfields at Blackman Park (B3 and B4) using a similar turf variety proposed and inclusive of drainage and irrigation.
Council has continued to receive correspondence from sporting clubs about the deteriorating turf sportsfields where dogs have dug holes, defecated on the fields, and left sticks. This is an ongoing issue that sporting clubs and the community are struggling to resolve. Maintaining the natural turf sportsfield to the highest standard consummate with the money that has been invested, whilst dogs are allowed off-leash on the field, will not be possible. In turn, Council will not be able to achieve the level of use required to meet the community’s demand for sportsfields, which was the primary goal of the project.”
Lane Cove Council Increases Dog Walking Fees
Lane Cove Council has also increased the fee for dog-walking companies using Lane Cove sportsfields. It is only one of two councils that impose fees on dog walkers.
The Inner West Council debated this issue late last year and it was decided not to introduce fees.
Ryde City Council imposes a fee of $1260, and Lane Cove Council, in this year’s budget papers, proposes a fee of $2360 and increasing public liability insurance requirements from a policy of 10 million to 20 million.
Lane Cove Council Meeting and Public Forum
The Lane Cove Council May Meeting will be held on Thursday, 23 May 2024. The public forum will be held on Monday, 20 May 2024 at 7 pm, and residents may speak for up to three minutes. To speak you were required to register before midnight on 19 May 2024, however the Mayor usually permits residents who have not registered to speak.
