Maroondah not included in first announcement of Melbourne’s new off-leash dog parks
Maroondah dog lovers will be howling with anger after they missed out on an off-leash park which were promised for across Melbourne by the Government. However, all is not lost.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Maroondah dog lovers and their four-legged friends will have to wait a little bit longer for a promised park to play in.
The State Government made a $5 million election commitment to create 16 off-leash dog parks around Melbourne, including one in Maroondah.
Nine of the parks were announced earlier this week — including one in Knox at Rowville’s Emerson Place Reserve — however Maroondah was not on the list.
Ringwood state Labor MP Dustin Halse did not say why Maroondah wasn’t included in the first announcement or if Maroondah Council submitted an application.
He said the council was eligible to apply in stage two of the program which opens next month.
Mr Halse said the program was designed to be rolled out in stages and a park would be built at some stage during his term which finishes in November 2022.
“This was an election commitment, and delivering on local projects is the Government’s priority,” he said.
MORE: YOUTHS THREATEN TEEN WITH TASER
VISITORS SLAMMED FOR FLOCKING TO FOREST
MACCAS’ PLANS FOR YARRA VALLEY RESTAURANT
“It is part of a larger statewide initiative and it’s common for them to be rolled out in stages.
“The selection of the site is up to Maroondah Council and is part of the grant process.”
Other suburbs confirmed in the first announcement of dog parks include South Yarra, Eltham North, Cranbourne East and Carrum.
Maroondah mayor Mike Symon said the council had been in talks with the government about the park and was preparing a funding application for Round 2 of the program.
He said the council had been investigating “a number of possible locations” across Maroondah but did not give specifics.
“We will continue these investigations, develop concept plans for the preferred location and then undertake public consultation in early 2021,” Cr Symon said.