Dog owners were overjoyed the off-leash area at Pitt Park in Wentworth Falls will remain open after Blue Mountains councillors last week elected not to shift to Murray Park.
Voting on December 12 against the recommendation by council staff to move the off-leash area, all councillors bar two, supported a motion by Councillors Chris Van der Kley and Romola Hollywood to keep Pitt Park as 24-hour off-leash access, unless booked by sports or undergoing maintenance.
It was also planned to hold a meeting in January or February between the two councillors and stakeholder groups that use Lower Pitt Park, to identify strategies for effective use of the park.
Funding for signage explaining the shared-use arrangements for Lower Pitt Park, and a sign to show when the park has been booked by sporting groups will also be introduced.
“We are delighted,” said Blue Mountains Dog Off-leash Group founder Leigh Collins. “And we welcome the move to get together with the stakeholders.”
Crs Van der Kley and Hollywood spoke at the council meeting of the significant traffic problems that already existed on Falls Road in Wentworth Falls, without adding Murray Park to the mix.
Cr Hollywood said it was clear that remaining at Pitt Park was the preferred option.
“Following the consultations and despite the offer of fenced area at Murray Park, it was clear that the use of Pitt Park as a dog off-leash area, when not booked for sporting activities, was the preferred option of the majority of the community,” she said.