The Narrogin council supports the proposal of a new enclosed off-leash dog exercise area

Narrogin’s fury friends are one step closer to playing unleashed in a designated space with the council backing an idea for a dog enclosure that has been years in the making. Narrogin councillors voted in favour of a new enclosed off-leash dog exercise area at their meeting on August 28. Shire staff last proposed the idea at a 2018 council meeting but it was rejected. Support for a safe and accessible space for the community’s increasing dog population has since grown with community members writing “numerous emails in support”, according to council minutes. The report prepared for the council noted that Narrogin’s “current zoned off-leash areas are very hard to access without a vehicle and are all on the outskirts of town and the areas are not securely fenced”. The former railway tennis courts in Gnarojin Park Reserve on Hale Street and McKenzie Park between Jersey and Ensign streets were nominated as potential locations for an 800sqm enclosure with 1.2m to 1.5m-high fencing. Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said letters would be sent to joining and adjacent residents regarding the selected locations in the coming weeks to seek further public comment for consideration. As the Hale Street site borders a known site of cultural significance under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, the proposal has been referred to Indigenous elders for comment. The project’s estimated design and installation cost is about $60,000 for the McKenzie Park location and $90,000 for Gnarojin Reserve, partly funded by the council’s adopted Corporate Business Plan for 2024-2028. “The enclosure encourages responsible pet ownership and enhances community engagement by creating a social space where people can meet and interact,” Mr Stewart said. “Dog owners have expressed excitement about the opportunity to have a safe area for their pets to play off-leash in a central fenced environment, and there’s a general sense of enthusiasm from residents who see it as a valuable addition to the town’s facilities.”