Five options for Jamberoo’s fenced off-leash area will go on public exhibition. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A specially designated space to allow pets to exercise and socialise in Jamberoo is now one step closer, with the community invited to have their say on the potential options for a long-awaited fenced off-leash dog area.
After years of advocating, hundreds of signatures on a petition, the development of a dog friendly spaces strategy and a vigorous process to find the best location, Kiama Council will now invite the community to give feedback on what a new off-leash area in Jamberoo will look like, after councillors voted to put five proposed options on public exhibition.
“Jamberoo as a township has the second highest number of dog owners in the LGA, only behind Kiama Downs, and having a valuable community space I believe is important,” councillor Stuart Larkins said.
“While I have been a little bit disappointed by some delays associated with this project and I would’ve liked to have seen a co-design with the community occur earlier, I am pleased to see this option be made available.”
Proposals for the new facility, to be placed on community land on the corner of Gibson Cresent and Churchill Street, include different sized spaces and options.
“The location where the fenced dog space is was determined by and consulted with the community by the strategy,” Cr Larkins said.
“Alternative locations would have resulted in a loss of sporting facilities and spaces in Jamberoo, or the loss of designated cemetery land, which is becoming increasingly scarce in our LGA.”
Options one and two are for 30 m by 30 m spaces for small and large dogs, with different footpath placements.
The third option shows a slightly larger 35 m by 35 m space, to also cater to small and large dogs.
Option four details two areas that share a boundary – a 35 m by 35 m area for large dogs and a 22 m by 22 m area for small dogs.
The final option is for two unconnected areas, one 45 m by 22.5 m for large dogs and the other 30 m by 30 m for smaller dogs.
“Personally I believe that option five, which is allowing for small and large dogs, is I think a really good option,” Cr Larkins said.
More than three years ago a petition with more than 500 signatures was tabled at council showing a strong demand for a fenced off-leash dog area in the LGA, with consultation undertaken as part of the Dog Friendly Spaces Strategy revealing the specific need in Jamberoo.
Council received a grant and co-contributed developer funds to the project which saw the initial installation of a 30 sqm structure.
But the community response and concerns prompted the need for further consultation on aspects such as size and ancillary services such as shade and water.
“Despite some of the naysayers and social media trolls this project has come about due to years of advocacy,” Cr Larkins said. “A formalised appropriate dog space in Jamberoo that has been without one for decades.”
The options will be exhibited for 28 days, with feedback to be reported at a future council meeting for adoption and the resolution of the preferred option to be constructed.
Public exhibition will soon begin, with feedback able to be submitted through the Your Say Kiama website.
