Media Response - Damper Creek dog off-leash areas
Published on 10 January 2023
Query from The Age
How many years has Damper Creek been an off-leash area/is it right that it's been over 50 years?
Damper Creek was formalised as an off-leash area in 1997 via an order made under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.
Dog owners are angry with the decision that was made at the Nov council meeting, saying there was strong community opposition (survey results showed 82% for and 18% against) and feeling that they were not consulted enough on possible alternatives beforehand. What is your response?
Council’s Off-Leash Policy was endorsed at the 29 November Council meeting following 3 months of consultation (9 July – 30 September).
We had 80 submissions via email and 693 contributions online, including 61 submissions.
Of the 693 people who participated in the survey, 175 participants provided their response to the proposed change to Damper Creek.
A petition of 550 signatures regarding Damper Creek had approximately 50 signatures from Monash residents, the remainder were residents living outside the area.
Council was careful and thorough in considering all views, feedback and advice before deciding that Damper Creek, like other conservation reserves within the municipality such as Valley Reserve, warrants an approach which maximises protection of the flora and fauna within it.
We adjusted what we proposed for this area after receiving the feedback, adding two additional pocket park areas that are off-leash.
Damper Creek Conservation Reserve is an important ecological corridor and refuge for native fauna in an otherwise heavily urbanised area.
Preserving areas such as this is critical. Council wants to minimise the potential impacts domestic animals have on the native flora and fauna in this reserve.
Dog owners say the alternative options are not suitable due to size and distance. What is your response?
Like other inner-suburban councils, Monash is experiencing population growth and pressure on our public open spaces. With a continued increase in the number of registered dogs in Monash, planning and managing off-leash areas for people to walk and exercise their dogs is critical.
We have had to balance the needs of dog owners but also consider the important native eco-system in this area.
As well as the off-lead space in Damper Creek that we have created, there is an existing dog off-leash area nearby at Federal Reserve (approx. 300m from Damper Creek) and a new off-leash area to be provided at Bowman Reserve, also nearby (approx. 400m).
The ecologist report states that vegetation in the reserve “clearly demonstrates the successful management that has occurred” – why then is it argued that the leash rules should be changed?
Melbourne-based company Practical Ecology was commissioned by Monash Council to assess the impacts that domestic animals and invasive pest animals have on the native flora and fauna throughout Monash’s bushlands reserves with particular focus on Damper Creek Conservation Reserve.
Domestic animals can be disruptive to native ecosystems if unrestricted and can cause damage to flora and fauna. The Practical Ecology report found that as dogs currently have unrestricted access to all areas within Damper Creek Conservation Reserve when ‘off leash’ it is likely that they have had a negative impact within the conservation reserve, in particular within the remnant and revegetation areas. The report also recommended that the area be designated as a dog on-leash area.
The remnant vegetation within the Damper Creek Conservation Reserve has been assessed as having high quality biodiversity values based on the mature revegetation and floral diversity present and should be protected wherever possible.
Is there also a plan to deal with cats (eg with curfews?) and foxes?
Monash has a night-time cat curfew introduced in April 2021 following extensive community consultation, to help reduce nuisance caused by cats and to protect wildlife and impact on the environment.
Council engages a professional pest control company to undertake fox control in selected bushland reserves, including Damper Creek, twice yearly. This is based on a 14-day trapping cycle.
If foxes are reported on private property it is the owner of the property to arrange appropriate fox control measures.
What are next steps in the process for changing the reserve?... When will it become on-leash? When will new signage be installed? And when will community laws officers be on site?
These changes will happen from 1 July 2023, increasing the overall number of off-leash areas in Monash from 31 to 45 and signage will be in place ahead of the changes so people know they are occurring.
Community laws officers regularly visit parks and reserves to speak with residents about their dogs and responsible ownership and will continue to do so when these changes take place.
Will dog owners who do not obey the on-leash rules be fined by these community laws officers? How much is the fine.
Council intends to take an educative approach during the initial stages of implementation and following this a person may be issued with a fine.
The fine amount is $185 however a Court may impose a fine of up to $370 for a first offence and up to $740 for a second.
Is there any chance that council will reconsider its decision?
No, we have consulted extensively and whilst we know our decision won’t please everyone we believe it provides the correct balance between the protection of Council’s limited and valuable conservation reserves and the needs of dog owners.
Issued: 9 January 2023
To: The Age
Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija