![Furry fun: Olivia Barnes, 8, with Luna the border collie at Lake Macquarie's first fenced dog exercise area, which opened in Speers Point in May. Pictures: Jonathan Carroll Furry fun: Olivia Barnes, 8, with Luna the border collie at Lake Macquarie's first fenced dog exercise area, which opened in Speers Point in May. Pictures: Jonathan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/cab3awiUhmM7JiamdaiM3H/3fe0d44c-27b9-4118-86f3-67ac3c3029fa.jpg/r0_0_5026_3306_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
LAKE Macquarie would have at least one fenced dog exercise area in each of its catchments, under a new plan for how to cater for the city’s growing pooch population.
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The council has put on public exhibition to September 24 its draft Dogs in Open Space Procedure, which proposes dedicated off-leash areas in Belmont, Charlestown, Glendale, Morisset, Toronto, Northlakes/Cameron Park and North Cooranbong.
Council acting manager community planning Andrew Bryant said the city had 30 dog exercise areas, but the draft document suggests these should be moved away from sportsgrounds used regularly for training or competition to avoid conflicts of use.
“Wherever possible, council would relocate these within one kilometre of each existing space.”
“Some might be smaller but, on the upside, they may be leash-free at all times, as opposed to the restricted times enforced at most off-leash sportsgrounds.
“If there is no suitable alternative location, the existing dog exercise area will remain until a feasible alternative becomes available.”
![Julie Norman with Suzi Q. The area's dog ownership is above the NSW average. Julie Norman with Suzi Q. The area's dog ownership is above the NSW average.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/cab3awiUhmM7JiamdaiM3H/b82d9f69-1c31-47c1-8f96-5891d2aa9b79.jpg/r0_0_5472_3648_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)