Should Townsville City Council consider a dog park for Magnetic Island?

An e-petition is urging the Townsville City Council to finally consider a fenced dog park for Magnetic Island’s residents and tourists.

Kelpies keep active outdoors by jumping over a log. A Magnetic Island resident is urging for a dog park to be established there. Picture: Rob Leeson

An online petition is urging for the Townsville City Council to establish a fenced dog park on Magnetic Island.

The petition, signed by Nelly Bay resident Devony Stewart, claims there has already been petitions with no progress on the issue, but that there was as demand for visitors and residents to have an established place for their dogs to exercise and play freely.

“Given that 76 per cent of the island is designated as national park, which we value and are committed to preserving, there are limited suitable areas for exercising and socialising dogs,” the petition said.

“A fenced dog park would minimise the impact on the island’s natural environment.

“The absence of a dog park or accessible alternative impacts residents with limited mobility who are unable to exercise their dogs effectively.

“It’s time for the council to acknowledge and act on this demonstrated need by providing a safe, appropriate space for dogs and their owners.”

As of Christmas Eve the petition had 40 signatures, but the e-petition would be available for residents to sign for another six months.

Council e-petitions were typically brought to councillors at a council meeting where they could decide to ignore the petition, officially recognise the petition and take no further action, or to request council officers investigate the subject further before they ultimately decided on an outcome.

Petitioners’ suburbs were also included in their e-signatures which councillors were increasingly paying attention to, noting that in petitions in the past, such as the controversial request to build a Julian Assange statue overlooking his childhood home of Magnetic Island, petitioners were not living locally.

Originally published as Should Townsville City Council consider a dog park for Magnetic Island?