Community welcome to learn about fenced dog park plan

City of Newcastle invites the community to an information session at the site of the City’s first fenced dog park on Saturday to view plans and hear about its benefits.

The 8,760 square metre fenced area will be built at the Acacia Avenue Reserve, North Lambton, as part of the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan. There are currently 44,300 registered dogs in the Newcastle local government area.

The session will be held Saturday from 10am to 12 noon. Non-dog owners are also welcome to attend and learn about the works taking place.

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the North Lambton site will be the first in a series of future improvements to off-leash dog parks across Newcastle.

“This site in North Lambton marks the start of improvements to dog infrastructure across the City of Newcastle,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said.

“This project responds to consistent requests from our community. Half of all Novocastrian households own at least one dog.

“The project will deliver two separate fenced areas at Acacia Avenue Reserve, catering for both big and smaller dog breeds, and include additional tree plantings, shelter and seating, and drinking water stations for our four-legged friends."

Rangers will be onsite Saturday offering free microchipping and responsible pet ownership bags containing pamphlets and brochures about responsible dog ownership and care.

Stage 1 of the project is expected to commence this Monday and be completed by July.

When completed, the park will include.

• 1.5 metre high mesh fencing to create separate small and large dog areas
• Two shade shelters with seating
• 450 metres of new accessible pathway
• Two dog bubblers and dog dispenser bags
• Signage and waste bins
• Tree planting and landscaped gardens
• Informal gravel carpark

The existing off-leash area at the Reserve’s lower level will be retained as an additional unfenced dog exercise facility.

The City plans to deliver further fenced off-leash areas as funding becomes available in future financial years, with consideration being given to further sites including O’Connell Reserve, Lambton Park, the Carrington Foreshore, Maryland Drive Reserve, and Stevenson Park.