Point Cook off-leash park trial gives dogs their day

DOG owners in Point Cook have welcomed a council decision to trial an off-leash dog area in Alamanda estate.

A dog park will also be established at Saltwater Reserve this year.

The council’s draft budget includes $92,000 for an off-leash park with fencing, seats, drinking facilities, bins and bags.

In the meantime, a 12-month trial will allow the oval on the corner of Prudence Parade and Malibu Boulevard to be used as an off-leash park from 6am-3pm weekdays.

The move follows a false start last December when some residents misunderstood a council decision for a trial off-leash area on the oval in Alamanda estate, expecting it to be available for immediate use.

Point Cook Action Group’s Suzanne Butler said it came as a blow when the council cracked down on a group of about 30 dog owners who had met regularly and used the oval as an off-leash park.

“This was devastating to the dog owners of Point Cook, especially those who had begun to build friendships,” she said.

“Since then we have not had a location in Point Cook to gather which, by all reports, has made a massive difference to animal behaviour.”

Ms Butler said she was pleased plans for off-leash parks in Point Cook were back on track.

“Socialising your dog is part of being a responsible dog owner. Dogs need to learn what behaviour is acceptable, similarly to children, and off-leash play is the only way they can do this successfully.”

Point Cook resident Claire McKay said the off-leash parks would benefit dog owners in Point Cook because a previous off-leash area at Skeleton Creek was unsafe, with snakes in summer and flooding in winter.

However, Ms McKay said the hours for the Alamanda off-leash trial were not ideal for dog owners who worked during the day.

Cr Bob Fairclough said the hours had been restricted when sports teams that used the oval raised concerns.

He said he was glad a compromise had been reached.