Salutations people
Apologies, this is, by necessity, a long read.
As you're aware, I presented the petition to the councillors at last month’s (September) Agenda meeting, The councillors voted unanimously to put the motion forward for administration consideration.
Not entirely unexpectedly, I have now received an email from Helen Bows, the Acting City Asset Manager, politely dismissing the request.
Without in any way wishing to offend anyone, I feel it’s almost de rigueur for cities and shires to dismiss community requests – administration staff are, like most working people these days, very busy and local governments generally work to long term planning, so a polite ‘No’ is intended to get rid of the issue. Sadly, the long term effect of continual rejections, is that communities feel ignored and interest in even voting dissipates, with people feeling “What’s the use, we get ignored anyhow!”
This decision is a little concerning, in that the councillors and the public appear not to have been consulted, it's quite fitting that it's almost a tale of the tail wagging the dog!
I’m not one for giving up, we dog owners need the facility, so fear not, I had expected some sort of negative response at this stage. I plan to keep going. If necessary, I’ll organise a protest meeting of dog owners and our pooches at the park with the media invited, however I rather hope that the City of Swan administration will take the time to understand why the facility is important and accept their vital and appreciated role in serving the community.
I’ve posted the letter from Ms Bows and my response below:
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Dear Mr Ross,
Re: Petition - Off-Leash Dog Section Natham Park, Swan View
Thank you for your submission. As per Council resolution the petition has been dealt with in accordance with the Meeting Procedures Local Law 2023 under section 4.4(2)e):
(e) referred to the CEO for consideration and response.
The contents of the petition have been considered and the following can be advised.
The City assesses all park embellishments against the Standards of Provision: Open Space and Community Buildings (adopted October 2017). These Standards provide a consistent framework for the hierarchy, function, use and design of open spaces across the City.
Natham Square Park is categorised as a Neighbourhood Open Space (1-5 ha) under the City’s Standards of Provision. These spaces are designed to support short length stays and serve a local catchment of 800m. Enclosed dog exercise areas are generally considered more suitable in areas with restricted open space, or for larger open spaces, as fencing restricts part of the reserve to a single use and reduces access/flexibility for other community activities such as informal sport or gatherings.
Under the City of Swan’s Dog Exercise and Dog Prohibited Areas, all reserves other than those specified in the attached or identified through signage are considered dog exercise areas. This means dogs may be exercised off lead in most parks, including Natham Square Park, provided they remain under the effective control of their owner. Dogs are, however, prohibited from entering children’s playgrounds.
Natham Square Park is the only Neighbourhood Open Space in Swan View east of the cemetery and provides a variety of functions to the community, including off-lead dog exercise, recreation and kick-about space. The construction of an enclosed dog exercise area will restrict access to other open space functions, and the City does not have plans to construct an enclosed dog exercise area at Natham Square Park.
If you have any further queries, please contact feedbackteam@swan.wa.gov.au
Kind regards,
Helen
Helen Bows
Manager (Acting)
Asset Management
T: 08 9267 9366
2 Midland Square, Midland | PO Box 196 MIDLAND DC WA 6936
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Dear Helen
Thank you for your emailed letter (17/10/25), in response to the community request (petition) for a fenced off-leash dog exercise area at Natham Square.
Whilst I understand there are always (and must be) existing regulations governing everything involved in managing a city or shire, there must also be the capacity to respond to the developing needs of a community. There is, in my opinion, always room for improvement or change for the better, whether it’s individual behaviour, or the use of a public facility, such as parklands.
The provision of purpose built fenced off – leash dog exercise areas is, as I understand, a relatively recent concept and often has not been previously accommodated in planning that may have existed for a long period. Indeed, I believe that a State government call to cities and shires across Western Australia several years ago took many local governments by surprise, in terms of considering what they did offer.
I’ve had the privilege recently of helping the Mundaring Shire understand what a properly designed dog exercise area needs; as an example, they have a concept for an off – leash dog exercise area at the proposed Brown Park Precinct, but were not aware of the need for separate areas for small and large dogs. The lesson for all of us, as citizens and as those administering local government, is to seek the advice and opinions of those affected.
I can tell from your letter that the issues involved with off – leash dog exercise are not something you are familiar with - and please, I’m not inferring fault, you can’t be expected to be across every topic, which is where consultation is essential, segueing into the fact that I had rather hoped the city administration would at least contact me for a touch of in-depth discussion on what might be needed. It may be, of course, that your department has reached out to experts and made the decision to reject the dog owning community’s request on advice received.
However, your pointing out the various areas around the City where dogs may be exercised off - leash does tell me that there is a lack of understanding within the City administration of the realities of dogs and control. If I may be so bold as to run through some salient points.
The number one issue of dog exercise is control. If we are realistic, the majority of dog owners do not have, and probably never will have, complete control of their animals – I’m sure you’ve witnessed people walking larger dogs on leash, struggling to hold on to their dogs. I’ll put my hand up as one of those – we have a very strong, relatively large young adult rescue dog and we can only walk her with a harness to maintain an acceptable level of leash control. If we were of an age to ride skateboards, she could effortlessly pull us along the entire length of Morrison Rd if she saw another dog she wanted to play with! I assure you, we’re not irresponsible dog owners, it’s just the reality, although most of us don’t really want to admit it.
Dog exercise is vital in terms of the animal’s physical and emotional health, however walking is often not enough, especially for bigger dogs. Again, I’ll use our dog as an example; she can do a seven or eight kilometre walk and is still raring to carry on, unlike her owners who have collapsed and are trying to call an ambulance. Yet 40 to 50 minutes at an off- leash dog exercise area, and she’s happily tired. Part of the reason for dogs reaching a healthy exhaustion at off – leash areas is the mental stimulation of interaction with other dogs (and people), which is very similar to the tiredness (social) dogs feel after a day at properly run dog day care centres.
Off – leash dog exercise areas are not for every dog – some are not social, they are reactive and totally unsuited for such areas; but for the majority of socialised dogs, they are brilliant, especially if designed and set up by people who understand the needs of dogs.
Off – leash parks also work on several levels for people – they are excellent meeting places and become community hubs where people socialise and, as we have often witnessed, establish friendships, something that can be very important for the lonely in our communities, especially older people. I recommend visiting an off – leash dog park, it’s actually quite heart - warming and noticeably different to sports venues / parks, where competition can often subtly prevent warm discussions.
Off – leash parks are also an absolute boon for time - poor working families - and doesn’t that apply to so many, with both parents needing to work, kids at school and a much - loved dog needing exercise! In other words, dog exercise parks have become essential to our modern fast – paced life.
You’ve very kindly pointed out several park areas where dogs are allowed off – leash, but inevitably (and the problem is shire / city wide across Perth), these areas are either unfenced, or have very low fences that a medium or large dog can clear without any difficulty, not to mention, the areas are almost inevitably too large to have proper recall / control. The average dog runs at around 25 – 30km/h, but many can reach far higher speeds – our dog can easily crack 50 - 60km/h. The far smaller Jack Russells can pull 60km/h if they want to (and many of them tend to feel the urge to every now and then!).
I’m sure you can see from these statistics (easily verified should you need), that too big an exercise area, without adequate fencing, is totally unsuited to safe exercise and a recipe for disastrous consequences, doubly so when the space is shared with unsuspecting other park users - excited dogs on the run (zoomies as we call them) are unintentionally hazardous to people. What the dog sees as fun (running between people, or through their legs) is, to be frank, bloody dangerous if they knock you over!
Quite simply, the great majority of parklands and ovals are totally inadequate as off – leash dog exercise areas, they are not ‘Fit for Purpose,’ although I understand why the use of such areas has become a defacto method of providing space for dogs to run.
It also brings into question the shared use, in that many people don’t like dogs, or are scared of them – some with very good reason. I think it unreasonable for any of us, dog owners and City / Shire administrative staff alike, to expect people to share facilities with off leash dogs – and certainly not just because of the odd irresponsible selfish dog owner who refuses to clean up after their dog has defecated.
In short, properly designed and set – up off – leash dog exercise areas are an essential need of every community, yet there are very, very few of them, with the City of Swan particularly deficient. Thankfully, there is a simple and logical space available to create a near perfect facility – Natham Square Park.
Helen, I understand that you are in all probability not familiar with the day-to-day use of Natham Square, I am, I live on Natham Square.
As you rightly point out, the park functions on several important levels – a sports oval, the kids’ recreation area and the open space. If I may please examine the use of those functions, as follows:
The sporting oval is great, but it isn’t suitable as an off – leash area, in that the park itself is not fenced and surrounded by roads on three sides. It is also bordered by walking paths and therein there is an issue with those walking non-social / reactive dogs on - leash, while other dogs are off-leash – it’s a recipe for disaster and of course, the oval is shared with people wishing to pursue sporting activities or even have a relaxed picnic.
The kids’ play area is brilliant and almost always in constant use. Along with being rightly forbidden territory for dogs, there simply is no reason for dogs to be there, apart from being walked along the paths on leash.
Then there’s the open space area on the eastern end of the park. In fact, it’s heavily wooded, brilliantly so, however it is rarely used. Sure, people cut through it and there is a meandering footpath along the western edge, but apart from that, barely anyone uses it.
It is utterly perfect in terms of what is required for an off-leash, fenced dog exercise area. The establishment of such a facility would inconvenience very few people and would not impinge on sporting activities, or the kids’ play area; indeed, it would safely isolate dogs from little kids and adults not wishing to engage with dogs. Effectively, there would be little, if any, restriction to those wishing to cut through the tree area – an area between a fence and the open drain / creek would serve that purpose perfectly.
Helen, you state the City of Swan has no plans to construct a dog park at Natham Square, I understand that, however with great respect, that’s not an excuse to ignore the developing needs and wishes of the community.
I would like to think the City will become proactive in looking after the community and seize this opportunity to serve.
Yes, I fully understand the very necessary budget constraints on any government administration. To that end, I have had discussions with Steve Catania, the State member of Midland, about the proposal, in the hope that the State government might provide some financial help to the City of Swan to establish the Natham Square Dog Park, should it be required. He is supportive and understands the need. I don’t wish to infer that he promised financial support, however he expressed an eager willingness to talk with the City about the proposal.
May I, with great respect, request that the City of Swan takes a closer look at the community’s wish for the dog park to be established and reassess what appears to be a “Closed Book” approach. It’s important to a lot of dog owners and has the potential of becoming a splendid, social asset to the community.
I look forward to a positive response and offer my help in any way that might be of assistance to the City in getting this proposal off the ground – well, on the ground, but fenced!
Kind regards
Greg