Hello,
The decision to reject an off-leash area at Royal Park was reportedly carried by the narrowest of margins: 3–2.
That alone should encourage a fresh look at the issue.
Royal Park is public open space. Junior football uses the oval for training and Saturday matches, but outside those times it should also be available for responsible dog owners, walkers and the wider community. Shared use works successfully in many parks across Victoria.
One question that deserves clarification is whether any councillors had associations with organisations that regularly use Royal Park (Such as QCFNC) and if so, whether those associations were considered under the Council’s conflict of interest requirements? If there were no relevant interests to declare, that’s fine—but transparency matters, particularly when a single vote determines the outcome…
This isn’t about football versus dogs. It’s about ensuring public land serves the whole community through sensible, shared use.
Perhaps it’s time Council revisited the decision with a focus on balance, transparency and the needs of all Point Lonsdale residents.
VPL