Dogs play a very important role in the lives of many people. The City has recognised the importance of giving dog owners places to exercise their pets off-leash in a controlled manner and has also heard the community say they would like to see more fenced dog parks in our region.

Sparrovale is a very special reserve. It is almost 500-hectare in size and includes 200-hectares of natural and constructed wetlands.

To protect and enhance the natural habitat and biodiversity values dogs will be excluded from the wetlands. Dogs will also be required to be on-leash when visiting the other less sensitive areas of the reserve.

There has been considerable residential development on the west and south boundaries of Sparrovale with many new residents and their dogs moving in. We are therefore creating a secure fenced dog park off Rechenberg Blvd opposite the new housing developments where you can safely run your dog off-leash. This will be a win-win solution to protecting our wildlife and providing for our dogs and their owners.

The Victorian Government, through the New and Upgraded Parks Program, has supported us with a grant to construct a dog park in the area.

It will look different to other dog parks such as Belmont and Lara due to its more rural-type setting. It will be larger in scale but more 'natural' looking and will incorporate indigenous plants, wire farm-type fencing and gravel paths.

An off-road gravel carpark is also being considered in the design.

Please view the concept design below for the fenced dog park, and then complete our short survey to provide your feedback. All feedback will be considered before a final design is adopted.

You can request a hard copy of the survey by emailing urbandesignandheritage@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or contacting Open Space Planning on telephone 5272 5272.

This project is supported by the Victorian Government through the New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program