BATEMANS Bay dog owners are calling for a fenced off-leash park at Surf Beach.
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The group, “Batemans Bay rallying for off-leash fully fenced dog park”, wants a park established at the Batemans Bay Pony Club grounds.
On Easter Monday, a visiting family endured a frightening attack on a four-year-old boy and his father at Garden Bay, at Malua Bay.
The family said the Staffordshire terrier was not in a dedicated unleashed zone, but was unrestrained and had run away from its elderly owner.
Melissa Lancaster, of Surf Beach, said the idea for the fenced park grew after she inquired about dog parks on social media.
There are 46 designated exercise areas in the Eurobodalla Shire, but none are fenced, she said.
Malua Bay dog owner Sheree Weissel said she hoped dogs could be socialised and exercised when the Pony Club was not using the grounds.
“We want a fully enclosed park that we can bring dogs to, let them off their leashes (to) run free without the fear of taking them to a beach where they’re going to annoy other people, keep running or chase down wildlife,” she said.
“Dogs can be pests – we know that.
“Some people go to the beach to enjoy it for themselves and they don’t want a dog jumping on them.
“My dog loves to do that and she’s a 40kg rottweiler.
“Her friendliness can be seen as a big threat.”
The group said the club site was not near major roads and had ample parking.
Batemans Bay Pony Club secretary Sue Feeney supported the idea in principle.
“Personally, I’m happy to support it but I would have to take it to the committee, which meets at the end of the month,” she said.
The group’s petition for a dog park has attracted about 400 signatures in two weeks.
It calls for a fully fenced off-leash dog park in the Batemans Bay area, equipped with a variety of dog exercise equipment, a dog drinking fountain, benches for seating and a doggy bag dispenser and bin.
Visit www.facebook.com/groups/821748657863115/ to sign.
Surf Beach dog park in the ballpark
EUROBODALLA Shire Council says an off-leash dog area was proposed in a Surf Beach master plan two years ago.
The Surf Beach Landscape Master Plan, approved after community consultation in 2013, proposed that a section of the Batemans Bay Pony Club ground could double as a junior rider area and dog park.
A council spokeswoman said the recently-formed dog owners group was invited to complete a community infrastructure request for help to secure funding.
“(This) could include working out costs, identifying grants or looking at the operational budget for possible funding opportunities,” she said.
