City of Albany eyes Centennial Park as a location for an off-leash dog exercise area

The City of Albany is eyeing central Centennial Park as a suitable location for an enclosed off-leash dog exercise area after two community petitions.

Albany councillors voted unanimously at a council meeting on May 24 to receive two separate petitions — with a combined total of 544 signatures — calling for the council to create a fully fenced off-leash dog exercise area.

The petitions suggested an enclosed dog exercise area could be built in Lower King/Bayonet Head or in part of Foundation Park near the CBD.

At the meeting, councillors endorsed a request for city chief executive Andrew Sharpe to prepare a report for the council “regarding construction of enclosed off-leash dog exercise areas”, including indicative costings, compliance aspects and possible locations.

City reserves manager Jacqui Freeman said on Wednesday there was “a number of criteria” that needed to be met for a location to be considered as an enclosed dog exercise area.

“This includes being flat, accessible, centrally located, large in size and provide adequate parking options,” she said.

“Currently the location that meets this criteria is a portion of the Centennial Central Precinct opposite the City of Albany administration building on North Road.”

Ms Freeman said “final stages of designs and costing estimates are being developed” with the aim of seeking community and council feedback in September or October.