Beach plan for pooches
CHANGES to dog exercise areas within the City of Cockburn are at the forefront of the region’s new animal management and exercise plan.
Dogs and their owners will be able to access about 40 per cent of the Cockburn coast and more off-leash exercise areas, but plans to include an area of Woodman Point between the Ammo Jetty all the way around the point to Jervoise Bay dog beach have been scrapped.
That area — which was suggested in the draft plan — will now be a dogprohibited area after an independent environmental impact assessment and strong community and stakeholder objections.
After months of discussion and community feedback, council officially endorsed the five-year plan at their September meeting.
Allendale Park in North Lake, Aubin Grove Reserve, Beeliar Reserve, Colorado Park in Aubin Grove, Goodchild Park in Hamilton Hill and Santich Park in Lake Coogee will be added as off-leash areas for dogs as part of phase one of the plan.
Two new dog parks are also proposed for construction at Radonich Park in Beeliar and Macfaull Park in Spearwood.
As part of phase two of the plan, Success Reserve, Len Packham Park in Coolbellup and Enright Reserve in Hamilton Hill are proposed off-leash areas.
A local cat law set to be introduced next year will prohibit felines from regional parks in Beeliar, Jandakot and Woodman Point and City-managed conservation areas and any identified additional bushland areas in the City which are known habitats for vulnerable fauna.
By 2025, the cat management laws will mirror those currently applying to dogs, such as requiring them to be kept within their owner’s property at all times.
City of Cockburn rangers and community safety manager Michael Emery said the proposed cat laws would not only protect fauna but also help reduce cat injuries and deaths caused by being hit by cars or in fights with other cats and dogs.
The plan is estimated to cost the council about $550,000 over five years, with $135,000 under budgetary consideration for the implementation of phase 1 during 2020-21.