New Farm dog park neighbours: “zero effective regulation”

New Farm neighbours of what may well be the city’s busiest dog off leash park say Council is putting its head in the sand over serious noise, health and safety issues and they’ve had enough.

Residents who live next door to New Farm’s off leash dog area say council has done little to manage the site’s chronic overuse, noise and health issues.

They say they have been locked in a seemingly one-way dialogue with Brisbane City Council and Cr Vicki Howard (Central) for years, with some residents saying they are close to breaking point over being ignored.

Resident Karen Wotherspoon, on behalf of people living in the neighbouring apartments, said despairing residents repeatedly received emails from council saying action was being taken but occasional repairs to the park’s surface was not the answer.

She said overuse of the New Farm Powerhouse Park off leash area had destroyed the surface, turning what was once a “lush and green space” into a dead, dust bowl.

“The grass is dead because of overuse,” she said.

“It is overused because of the enormous increase in residential apartments and housing in the area bringing more and more people and more dogs, without the supporting infrastructure in their community.”

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The state of New Farm dog off leash area has neighbours desperate for Council to take action to remedy the dust and noise from what they say is as an over used and poorly managed space.

A council spokesman said: “there are currently no plans to remove or relocate this destination for inner-city dog owners”.

“Council undertakes regular maintenance in this park, including mowing, picking up litter, tree trimming as well as applying organic material to help reduce dog odours,” he said.

Residents showed City North News paper towels covered in black dirt which they said accumulated daily because of the dust being blown in from the park.

Video footage given to News features a council employee driving a mower churning dust into the air as it mowed over the dirt.

Another resident said the park did not have an environmental-impact statement (EIS) which meant there was “zero effective regulation of numbers, use, future suitability and sustainability of the venue”.

Council did not respond to questions about the park’s EIS.

Beagle owners gather at New Farm dog park on Saturday October 28th, 2017. . AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Josef Senisin and Maz Smaily supported a petition earlier in 2018 for Council to look into the condition of New Farm Dog Park which they say is worn down and can't meet the local demand.

One of the many problems residents say is the space is regularly used for dog parties and social gatherings for dog clubs as well as there being a need for more off leash spaces across the city.

They said Facebook posts for clubs regularly showed get-togethers and special events hosted at the New Farm park off leash area.

Residents also told News that they had observed owners leaving their dogs in the park while they shopped at the Saturday Powerhouse Markets.

Ms Wotherspoon said council needed to stop the “bandaid fixes, create new parks urgently and in areas where the dogs are coming from”.

“They should ban dog clubs from using the park as a place to hold a party,” she said.

“They should invest in a sprinkler system that waters the park daily.

“And ideally they need to restrict the number of people who can use the park -— the beautiful park that used to be enjoyed by everyone is now enjoyed by no one.”

Council is currently considering an additional off leash park in Newstead and Fortitude Valley.

A Furever Life dog training director Shannon Ratahi confirmed the incidence of attacks and aggressive behaviour between dogs in the park could be alleviated by providing alternative spaces for varying sizes of dogs.

“My interest lies in the education of dog owners and ensuring that we continue to plan infrastructure and green spaces that can be used by the ever growing community of pet parents, and the wider community as a whole,” Ms Ratahi said

“We don’t want dogs to vocalise in the apartments. They’ve got to have a space to get out and fulfil those instinctive behaviours — to bark and to chase and all those things — so there has to be some happy medium in that.”

Cr Howard did not respond to questions.

The Brisbane Dachshunds Group Christmas meeting at the New Farm Dog park. More than 100 of the dogs and their owners living it up.!!! Pics Tim Marsden

Assistance dogs need a safe place to play.

Council’s lack of suitable facilities for assistance dogs has been highlighted by the ‘overused’ and run down New Farm park off leash area.

Henry Macphillamy, who uses an assistance dog, said neighbouring Spring Hill’s off leash area was a “good model of a what a well planned, sustainable dog park looks like”.

“If you have a look at it, you will also see that they have created two areas - a separate fenced area for small dogs.” Mr Macphillamy said.

“Without getting into the politics of where the New Farm dog park is located, I don’t think it would be anywhere near as degraded as it currently is if there were additional parks made available to reduce the load on the existing single park.”

Mr Macphillamy has called for Council to consider the “ever increasing number of assistance dogs working with people in community” when it is planning and managing its off leash parks.

Mr Macphillamy said there were an “ever increasing number of assistance dogs working with people in the local community and it is important that more spaces are developed to allow all dogs based in the inner city to have the opportunity to have a run in a safe environment”. “This need will only grow over time, and planning needs to factor this need in. This is not a niche issue from my perspective, as it would benefit all dog-owners, and reduce the numbers of actual and potential for dog attacks.”

Providing safe spaces is essential for assistance dogs, says Brisbane’s Henry Macphillamy who has a guide dog. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

Craig Gresham with his assistance dog Misha. Off leash parks need to consider the increasing number of assistance dogs in community. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

City North News asked Council and Cr Howard the following questions. Council did not answer the highlighted questions.

a) when were you first contacted by local community about issues of dust and noise at the park

b) what measures has Council taken to rectify the noise and dust issues

c) does Council acknowledge the current community opposition to the Newstead dog park cites similar if not exactly the same issues raised by the direct neighbours of the New Farm park.

d) has Council been contacted about the overuse of the New Farm dog park

e) does Council have an environmental-impact statement for the New Farm dog park.

f) is there an EIS for the two new proposed dog parks

g) how many complaints have been registered with Council regarding dog attacks in New Farm park off leash park in the past five years.

h) Is Council aware that ‘dog parties’ are held in the off leash park dramatically increasing the numbers of dogs and owners using the facility. Is this prohibited?

i) what are the operational hours of the New Farm dog park

j) is there any signage regarding being mindful of neighbours

k) are dogs subject to Council bark laws while in the dog park and if not why not?

l) does Council propose to make any alterations to the New Farm dog park in the next year or two years.

m) has Council done anything to mitigate or spell the park since it began operations (and when was the park opened)

n) does Council plan to make any changes to the New Farm park location to alleviate the issues affecting current immediate neighbours

o) who owns the land around the Powerhouse including the land that was, until recently, used by the Moonlight Cinema. Who operates the lease? And can this site be used as an alternative dog park off leash space.