By Han Nguyen
Dog owners are urging Georges River Council to stop work on a $1.5 million shared cycle and pedestrian path at Lower Gannons Park in Peakhurst, fearing their dogs will chase cyclists.
The council has started building a three-metre wide concrete pedestrian and cycle path which will run through an off-lead dog area as part of the Gannons Park Landscape Masterplan, approved in April 2012.
The council has started building a three-metre wide path that runs through an off-lead dog area.Credit: Andrew Darby
Resident Amanda Mullington said the council had not given dog owners any prior warnings that work on the masterplan had resumed – four years after it was approved.
"We noticed there were some conveyors down there measuring up and marking out lines and thought 'What the hell is going on', and we talked to the workers and it turns out they've gone ahead with the plan," Ms Mullington said.
Dog owners are urging Georges River Council to stop work on a $1.5 million shared cycle and pedestrian pathCredit: Andrew Darby
"We've seen nothing around the park and no prior warnings telling us that this project was coming back."
The then-Hurstville Council put a draft of the Gannons Park Landscape Masterplan on public display at the end of 2011 and held a community meeting and feedback session in February 2012.
Former Hurstville mayor Steve McMahon, who "fully supported" the masterplan during his time in office, said the aim of the project "is to make the park accessible to the whole community".
The original plan included a BMX track, café and car park, but Mr McMahon said due to "community concerns" the BMX track was dropped. A bike and walking track was approved with an amended dog off-lead and barbecue area.
"Most locals supported the rest of the plans, especially families with kids," he said.
The former mayor said the barbecue area was built shortly after the approval in 2012. He said there was lots of consultation about the project when it first started, but had not heard about it since retiring and said he was "quite surprised" work was now occurring.
In a statement, Georges River Council – an amalgamation of Hurstville and Kogarah councils run by administrator Viv May – said the bike track was "consistent" with the Gannons Park Landscape Masterplan 2012.
"The former Hurstville City Council formally adopted the Gannons Park Landscape Masterplan at its meeting on 4 April 2012 and has been implementing the provisions of the masterplan in a staged manner since that time," the statement said.
"The area will continue to include a dedicated off-leash area for dogs, separated from the shared cycle/walking path by a vegetated swale."
Ms Mullington said the council was ignoring what the community wanted and that "at the end of the day, it's the dogs that will suffer".
"That's why we take them down to the park so we can throw a ball and train them. What are they [dogs] going to do when a bike comes past? They'll chase that."
Federal Member for Oatley Mark Coure said he was outraged that the community had not been consulted on the resumption of the masterplan.
"I've written to the council, and have spoken directly to the general manger asking for the immediate halt on this [masterplan]," Mr Coure said.
"Over the last five years nothing has happened – council did not have any money to build this and since then, over the last two weeks, they have decided to resurrect this project." Mr Coure said the park was big enough for both the dog off-lead area and a walking and bike track to coexist, but wanted the council to consult with the community again.
"No one actually knows what they want to do there. I have not seen any concrete plans, I want to see consultation," he said.
The plan also includes a three-metre wide asphalt pedestrian and cycle path in selected locations, adjustments to the road island and kerb on Pindari Road for the new cycle track and a new pedestrian fence.