We asked emailed each candidate 3 questions, please view their responses sorted by their Wards (West, Central, East) below.

1. Could you please provide a clear statement on your position regarding dog access to sports fields?
2. Specifically, will you commit to at least maintaining the existing shared access for dogs and their owners?
3. If elected, what specific actions would you take to ensure that our open spaces remain accessible to all members of the community, including dog owners and walkers?

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Specifically we’ve recorded candidates who responded with a definitive ‘Yes’ to question 2 and distributed this information as a flyer among the community. The following Candidates responded with a clear Yes.

• Rochelle Flood (West Ward)
  
  
• Kathy Bryla (Central Ward)
• Bridget Kennedy (Central Ward)
  
  
• Nick Riggs (East Ward)
• Merri Southwood (East Ward)

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The full responses of all candidates who replied to our questions are available to read below.

Should you wish to clarify their responses with further questions please email the candidates directly.

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West Ward:

Rochelle Flood (Greens)

I want to confirm that I am absolutely committed to maintaining existing access for dogs on sports fields in Lane Cove. So many people in our community live in units and have pets, and we need to make sure there's open access to green spaces for all.

I do not support any moves to stop dogs being allowed on fields when games are not in play. These are community assets and are there for all people to use. If there's a small number of people not doing the right thing then we can address that directly without banning access for dogs. 

I'm also really open to working with dog owners to see what we can do to increase access and improve existing dog parks - I know from our earlier conversation that there's issues with the dog park at Blackmans in particular, with mud after rain. 

Katie Little (Labour)

For me personally as a dog owner of an Irish Wolfhound x Great Dane, and as a worker who both boards hard to manage dogs and works casually in peak times at my friend's large dog boarding and walking business, it's a topic I'm extremely passionate about.

Personally I feel the more areas there are for owners to take their dogs, particularly large off leash areas, the better. A close friend of mine who lives in Canberra has told me it is normal in her area for there to be off leash fenced grounds separate for large dogs and small dogs, and I think this is a brilliant idea worth exploring too.

I am happy to report the Labor team is united in wanting to retain current arrangements regarding shared access to sports fields - however that comes with the caveat dog owners need to be responsible dog owners of course. Personally for me that has meant I usually leave a dog area with possibly an extra bag, but for a harmonious shared space I think that's an inconvenience I can live with! I'm also used to sharing the two dog off leash parks I frequent regularly with sports games who take priority at certain times which is easily workable in my experience, just as I adapt to caring for wildlife in certain areas by keeping my dog leashed. However I believe because of tensions arising around dogs and sports fields in Lane Cove, that Lane Cove council resolved a focus group be set up made of unbiased members to provide recommendations to Council regarding policy on the use of sports fields and I'll be keen to look at this panel's recommendations. 

Scott Bennison (no reply)

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Central Ward:

Kathy Bryla (Independent)

I am in support of maintaining access for dogs on sports fields and indeed for all our community to use.

I have signed the partitions and spoken directly to all the various dog groups. I believe they are publishing my advocacy for dogs on shared spaces in their newsletters prior to the election.

I propose to raise with council that a working session is set up for dog owners and all other users of sports fields to work collaboratively towards an agreement in the next term of council.

I served as the councillor representative on the dog advisory committee for the past term and believe I thoroughly understand this issue.

I hope this has answered your questions and if you need further clarification please do not hesitate to ask. 

Bridget Kennedy (Independent)

My voting record shows that I am an advocate for fair and equitable access for all to our open spaces.  I have consistently voted against banning dogs from open spaces. Our open spaces should not be only available to sports people or specific groups in our community.

Yes, I will commit to maintaining the existing shared access arrangements for dogs and their owners.

As you'd be aware there are plans for some community workshops to be externally facilitated to come up with ideas to resolve what has become an adversarial issue around sharing our open space. Pressures on open space will only increase with population growth. These issues are not unique just to our council. Personally, I think the focus should be on respect and caring for our open space and each other and the impact our behaviours have on other people and the open space which we all share. Unfortunately, it seems a few people let the side down. Maybe I'm being a bit idealistic that we could all work and play respectfully. Ideas like a citizens assembly could be explored, exploring whether there are enough bins for both sports people and dog people to dispose of their litter correctly, better signage, ensuring red flag processes are consistently and diligently followed and more.

I'm hopeful that the workshops are an opportunity for a reset and will come up with some innovative ideas.

Ken Quail (Labour)

As a fellow dog owner, I share the benefits and joy of a faithful hound. I understand the need to exercise them and the wider benefits of this for their owner’s health and social connection. I am grateful for the privilege of shared space access. I am also a strong supporter of community sport. Establishing fitness habits and engagement in teams is a very important opportunity for our youth and young adults. It provides very important social and health benefits. This is especially so when many young people are spending too much time isolated on screens of some sort. The vast majority of dog walkers do the right thing. Unfortunately, there are a few that are  not responsible and this represents a safety and health issue. This needs to be taken into account when considering shared space access.  When the issue of shared access of sporting fields is raised, I am primarily concerned about the division it appears to create. This is why I support the concept of a citizens advice panel as proposed by the council. I believe it may take some of the confrontation out of the debate. I have confidence that a balanced panel of residents, that have access to the facts, and can listen to the different sides of the debate, will come up with effective guidelines or recommendations.

In answer to your questions:

1.  I believe dogs and organised sport can coexist in our community with appropriate regulations and controls. I think these can be established through the citizens advice panel.

2.  I support the proposed process of a citizens advice panel to resolve access to sports fields.

3.  I would work with the results of the citizens advice panel and the wider community to achieve the best outcomes for dog walkers, walkers, causal sports and organised sport. Our open spaces are valuable and in short supply we need to make sure they are available to everyone to enjoy in safety

Caleb Taylor (Independent) - no reply

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East Ward:

Nick Riggs (Greens)

Firstly, I need to declare that I literally have a dog in this race… Her name is Luna and she is a two and a half year old Newfoundland.

Thank you so much for advocating on behalf of our community- I think I might have seen some of your presentations at the community forums?

As a dog owner, I am very committed to shared access to all open green spaces including playing fields.  As a giant-breed dog owner, I do not feel that fenced-off dog runs are appropriate for community needs and I would fight for having dog-owners represented on all future development proposals in the next council term.

I will advocate for combining the council forum and council meeting held on the same evening so that all votes made by council are accountable to residents in the room.

Finally, I have signed your petition and will share it online to keep myself accountable to these pledges.

Merri Southwood (Independent)

Dogs have been an integral part of the Southwood family since we moved to Greenwich in 1988. And a run for our dogs at Bob Campbell Oval has been almost a daily ritual since then. Many friendships have been formed through our interaction with other dog owners, as our dogs have played and socialised on the beautiful open space available at BCO. Open space in our LGA is scarce and an increasing population will increase demand for access to these spaces. These open spaces are community assets – they belong to all of us and they must be shared by all. In my experience dog owners have been very aware of their responsibility to work collaboratively with all who wish to access our open spaces, both in terms of sharing of access and in terms of leaving spaces clean and undisturbed by their dogs. And the few who have been less responsible have been left in no doubt that they need to lift their game. To your specific questions…

Dogs are an integral part of people’s lives and, as such, the community. The companionship of a dog is invaluable in terms of both physical and mental health.

At a time when development in increasing, and subsequently the number of pets, open space is becoming an ever more valued commodity. It is essential that sports fields remain available for the entire community to enjoy. As long as responsible pet ownership is upheld, dog owners must have the right to use open space like any other member of the community

I will commit to maintaining the existing shared access to open space that dogs and their owners currently have in all areas of Lane Cove.

If re-elected, I will support all Council initiatives and motions to ensure that both people and dogs retain their current access to sports fields and to implement strategies to ensure responsible dog ownership is encouraged. And, as dogs are such an integral part of the community, I’d like to see implementation of further measures detailed in the 2021 Dog Strategy, particularly the trial of an appropriate dog-swimming area in Lane Cove.

I think it is regrettable that the resolution passed in May this year to engage a consultant to undertake focus groups to discuss the use of open space was predicated on the premise that conflict exists between stakeholders. I am optimistic that all stakeholder have the capacity and goodwill to manage the shared use of open space without the need for a consultant.

David Roenfeldt (Labour)

I recognise the importance of animal companionship that dogs provide their owners and why many are considered ‘part of the family’. It is only natural to want to offer the best life for them. Whilst I currently do not own a dog myself, I grew up on or near farms in country areas, where we always had dogs or cats around. In the discussion around dog walking access to sports grounds I hope that everyone engaged can remain respectful of each other in pursuit of a solution that works for the community, With the aim of taking the heat out of the issue, the current council resolved to engage in a community consultation process. This was widely supported by council, and I believe is an effective way forward. Detail of the resolution follows.

Let me be very clear, my wish is to retain the current arrangements regarding shared access to sports fields. However, with such access comes responsibility. There are still small groups of dog owners, that have not respected other’s right to access, and have not acted responsibly to look after our grounds. Council has trialled a flag system where most sports field users are respecting the rules, while still there are others that appear to ignore them. I seek a solution where this mutual respect and responsibility is recognised by all. Council has resolved that a focus group be setup and convened at an appropriate time, made up of unbiased members with access to whatever information they require to provide recommendations to  Council regarding policy on the usage of our sports fields. I await the panel’s recommendations to help further guide Council in addressing this issue.