When Fraser Coast will get dog park exclusively for smaller pooches

Councillor Jade Wellings has succeeded in her push for a small dog park where owners can take their little pets to socialise without fear of a run-in with a much larger animal.

Councillor Jade Wellings has succeeded in her push for a small dog park to be brought to the Coast. Picture: Isabella Magee

She’s pushed for a small dog park since she became Fraser Coast Councillor about a year ago, and now, Jade Wellings has secured the works.

A small dog only park will be built at Peterson Park in Craignish, with the works starting from June 28, after “a lot of people” raised their desire for one to Cr Wellings.

The small dog park will be built at Peterson Park in Craignish.

Cr Wellings told the Chronicle that having owned small dogs, she understood why locals were pushing for the development.

“Quite often, you're afraid to take (small dogs) to a dog park where it's just one big fenced area, in fear that your little dog may get attacked by a larger dog ... and, it's not always the big dogs’ fault ... But unfortunately, regardless of whether it's the big dog or the small dog that starts something, it's always the small dog that comes off worse,” she said.

“(This park) gives people confidence to be able to take their little dogs out to socialise without a potential conflict, any serious injury or death.”

The dog area has been in the council’s Petersen Park Master Plan, adopted in 2018, for “quite a while” with the small dog park addition creating an even “better” environment.

Petersen Park Master Plan 2018.

“I’ve been advocating to bring that forward ... The small dog area is a result of council officers listening to the community ... They’re obviously listening to the feedback and in this case, they’ve agreed to provide (the small dog park),” Cr Wellings said.

And, which dogs will be allowed in the area will be up to the “common sense” of locals.

“I think that this is a really exciting addition to the park, that park was really a ‘nothing park’ until recent times ... the dog park will just add another element for people to be able to come and have a really good day out with the family and their dogs,” Cr Wellings said.

(R) Councillor Jade Wellings, who has been pushing for a small dog only park since she became a councillor “over a year ago”. Picture: Isabella Magee

The works are expected to take a few weeks, with the completion date to be advised.