Dogs in bushland

Sharing spaces

With over 3000 dogs registered with Lane Cove Council, our open spaces are being utilised now more than ever to exercise and socialise our canine friends. For dog owners, it is really important that they respect and comply with rules around whether public spaces are designated as either on or off leash.

TOP 6 BREEDS IN LANE COVE:

• Labrador and

Golden Retriever • Maltese • Cavoodle • Cavalier King

Charles Spaniel • Jack Russell

There is no bushland in Lane Cove where you are allowed to take your dog off leash

According to Council, the demand for access to both on leash and off leash areas at our sports grounds and open space areas is ever increasing. Our local parks also attract residents of other localities who bring their dogs to Lane Cove for exercise and recreation.

There are currently 17 different parks and reserves across the Lane Cove LGA where people are allowed to take their dog off leash (see www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/offleash for full details). Outside of these areas, dogs are required to be on a leash, with fines for dog owners that do not comply. Various penalties apply, but generally as per s12A (1) of the Companion Animals Act, there is a $220 fine where a dog is Not Under Effective Control, ie. not on a leash or secured. Lane Cove Council’s 2018/19 Operational and Delivery Plan outlines a commitment to improve some existing spaces and that it also intends to consult with the community about any new identified spaces that may be possible to convert to offleash areas in the future. Can I let my dog off leash in bushland? The short answer is no. Although the bush tracks throughout Lane Cove are a great place to exercise our dogs, they must be on a lead. Ian Partridge has been a local bushcare volunteer for over 20 years and says that there are several issues associated with dog owners allowing their animals to run free. “We see people either walking or running with their dogs all the time in the bush and usually there are no issues as they have them on a lead. However, occasionally we see dogs running off leash, generally ahead of their owner so that the owner isn’t aware what they’re up to – whether they are going off the designated tracks and chasing wildlife or going to the toilet which we may later step or kneel in as we work.” Ian says that the Lane Cove bushland is home to a wide array of ground dwelling birds and reptiles including bower birds, turkeys, wrens, ducks, skinks, water dragons and even echidnas which can be disrupted by dogs who run through the bush away from the main tracks. Even the dog’s scent can discourage native wildlife to use an area for their habitat or food source. Additional risks of letting dogs off lead in bushland include an increased chance of them picking up ticks, or eating fox droppings which can spread disease. Dogs can also disperse weed seeds that become stuck to their coat when running through the bush. “There is no bushland in Lane Cove where you are allowed to take your dog off leash and this rule exists for very good reason. Fortunately, most dog walkers adhere to the rules,” says Ian. Owners exercising their dog in shared use parks such as sports fields or off leash areas need to take responsibility to avoid any likelihood of their dog reacting to other users. On average, Council formally deals with up to 4 or 5 dog attack/ dog rushing matters each year. Off leash or nuisance dogs can be reported to Council via the Snap Send Solve app, which will enable them to actively deal with dog owners who don’t do the right thing. 

There goes the neighbourhood… and it’s getting worse!

IT CAN’T HAVE ESCAPED YOUR NOTICE THAT LANE COVE IS BULGING WITH HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.

The 2011 Census showed that nearly half our occupied dwellings (43.6%) were flats, units or apartments. Now comes the push for more medium density with the State Government’s little treat for the developers - Complying Development.

The Government’s new Low Rise Medium Density Code came into force in July and provides fast track complying development for “one or two storey dual occupancy.” That means terrace houses, town houses and manor houses, permitted only in areas where Council’s Local Environmental Plans (LEP) allow medium density development. The new Code could have had serious impacts on Lane Cove’s low density residential neighbourhoods (R2) had Planning Minister Roberts not granted Council an exemption, but only until the very lengthy government ‘Gateway process’ to amend our LEP is negotiated (as Lane Cove had historically permitted single storey villas in its R2 zone). Of much more concern is complying development itself. This was initially a strategy to allow people to build truly low impact development - a backyard barbecue or replace a side fence etc. - so not to use valuable Council time or residents’ money. Complying development for single dwelling houses was introduced some time ago. The rationale seemed to be that replacing the family home was low impact so ‘mums and dads’ needn’t waste money on a development application. Complying development means that if your proposal meets the criteria, you can go ahead and build - you must notify your neighbours but they can’t object. Problems occur when people build something different (higher, closer to the boundary etc), or if the new house blocks neighbours’ sunlight or overlooks the back garden. Once the neighbours realise, it’s too late and it’s very rare for a Court to rule against them. Medium density complying development brings all these risks, but on a larger scale. If developers consolidate land, they might build twenty or so terrace or manor houses in a single street. We will lose even more single dwelling houses, trees and vegetation, so neighbourhoods will change. The purpose of complying development is to provide a swift, smooth, cheaper path for development and Sydney’s rapidly growing population. Suburbs like Lane Cove are targeted because we are close to the city and major job hubs like Macquarie Park. It allows developers to proceed without the drain of neighbour or community objections that may require negotiation or modification to plans. Fast track development is not concerned about environment or amenity; the first casualties are the trees and backyards that make us ‘leafy Lane Cove.’ The unprotected units become hotboxes requiring air conditioning and clothes driers because the buildings and garages take the whole site, leaving no room for clothes lines, trees or gardens. While most of us might prefer medium, rather than still more high-density development in Lane Cove, it’s possible that the new Low Rise Medium Density Code is a stalking horse for the next phase where apartment buildings up to eight or ten stories will be declared ‘medium density’ and their developers will want to be included in the Complying Development Code. The only thing that can put the brakes on this is people power. It’s up to you to tell our politicians that we don’t want our suburbs destroyed by excessive development. 

Words by

Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society

Are your kids dreaming about something new?

Kids are encouraged to sort through their unwanted toys and recycle them at the My Kids Market being held at St Ignatius College in August.

“This year we have seen an increase in the number of kids hosting stalls with their parents to make some money to buy a prized toy or experience”. Jennifer Harrison, My Kids Market organizer. “The markets have always been a great way for parents to clear out unwanted baby and children’s items, and make some extra cash for the family at the same time.”

WHEN: Sunday 19 August, 9am - 12noon WHERE: St Ignatius College, Riverview