EUROBODALLA Shire Council formally declared NATA Oval a 24-hour off-leash dog area at its ordinary meeting last Tuesday.
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The oval has been used informally as an off-leash area for years but the council earlier this year sought to formalise it in consultation with the Eurobodalla Animal Welfare League (AWL).
Animals will still need to be under the care and control of a “competent” person at all times and off-leash is not permissible when NATA Oval is hosting events.
All financial costs associated with the move, such as signage and installation of a dog faeces bag dispenser, will be borne by the council, however other items would require additional funding.
During council’s public exhibition period of the proposal it received nine submissions from community members in favour and one against.
Those in favour noted that the area was fully enclosed, was utilised for dog training, provided a safe area for dogs to exercise and socialise and was a benefit for tourists with pets travelling through Narooma.
The submission against cited the potential of having “unpredictable and potentially dangerous” dogs off leash in a public area.
At council’s meeting on Tuesday, Eurobodalla Animal Welfare League president Daiva Ceicys spoke of the many benefits of designating the area off-leash, such as increased opportunities for socialising, exercising and combating boredom, for dog owners and their pooches alike.
She said the area would provide an alternative to off-leash beaches, which were not suitable for all, including dogs who liked to run, swim and chase and might not come back, and dogs and people with movement restrictions.
Ms Ceicys said the position of NATA Oval was ideal for visitors to the town and was central enough to attract locals with mobility issues who might not be able to walk their dogs on a leash.
She requested the council return the dog faeces bag dispenser it removed during recent works and also asked council to change the name of NATA Oval.
Ms Ceicys said the Narooma Area Tourism Association ceased to exist more than 10 years ago and requested it instead be named AWL Park, but said “anything relevant” would be more appropriate.
