Gold Coast residents plea to council to fence dangerous pond, Musgrave Park

Gold Coast residents are calling on the City to fence off a dangerous body of water after a beloved rescue pup was sliced “clean open”.

Gold Coast residents are calling on City Council to fence off a dangerous body of water after its latest casualty.

Dog owner Lauren Quilligan was forced to rush her beloved rescue pup Mick Jagger to an emergency vet at the weekend, after his torso was sliced “clean” open by something artificial beneath the water’s surface at Musgrave Park off leash area in Southport.

Residents have said the large pond is a fatality waiting to happen – but Ms Quilligan said the risk wasn’t only to pets, but young children.

“It blows my mind how close in proximity it is to a school and a daycare and it’s not required to be fenced,” she said.

Lauren Quilligan and dog, Mick Jagger at the pond at Musgrave Park. Picture Glenn Hampson

“It’s a huge risk – if a child escapes from the daycare (which borders the dog park and the filthy pond) it would be very easy for them to drown because it’s really muddy. It would be very easy for them to get stuck and not be able to get out.”

In 2024 a dog died after drowning in a large puddle in the same off leash park, sparking safety fears for pets and young children using the nearby playground by the park entrance.

The pond where a dog was found dead at Musgrave Park on the Gold Coast. A playground for children is nearby.

At the time Cr Brooke Patterson said the City was in the planning and design phase of a project to improve pedestrian pathways and address stormwater issues in Musgrave Park.

Ms Quilligan said she had previously raised he potential dangers of the pond with State Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor, but the matter had never been escalated.

“I’d love to see it fenced,” she said.

“Just a fence around it that’s got enough gaps in it to let the wildlife come and go, because it’s an important wildlife habitat – but it’s just really unsafe.”

The pond has proven dangerous to many pets, with its surface covered in thick algae and debris both on and beneath the surface.

The pond at Musgrave dog park. Picture Glenn Hampson

One resident said on a Facebook community group her dog had nearly drowned in the same pond, thinking it was grass.

“It also cost me $700 in ear infection bills,” she wrote.

“I agree, it needs to be fenced.”

Another called the park a “disgrace” blaming council’s inaction with appropriate maintenance and flood mitigation work.

Ms Quilligan said it was an incredible facility for local dogs, but work needed to be done.

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said the matter was being investigated.

Originally published as Gold Coast residents plea to council to fence dangerous pond, Musgrave Park