Dog users and their pooches at Cyril Curtain Reserve last week. Pictures: DAVID SMITH
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A POPULAR playground for pooches could have to make way for a new wetland on Williamstown’s foreshore.
Hobsons Bay Council has proposed building a 100m wetland in a section of Cyril Curtain Reserve that is also a popular off-leash dog area.
The section is also used sporadically for junior football training.
The $300,000 wetland’s vegetation would filter stormwater used to irrigate the nearby Williamstown Cricket Ground and run-off into Port Phillip Bay.
The council plans to expand the off-leash dog area by 100m west of Cole St to compensate for the loss.
But dog owners are concerned the new off-leash area would be too close to the road and clash with picnic and playground areas.
There are also concerns off-leash dogs would be tempted to chase birds and other wildlife the wetland would attract.
“Our fear is that once the dogs start taking birds they won’t be allowed in there,” said Indre Kisonas, of Williamstown.
There was also scepticism among dog owners about community consultation, particular the one-hour question and answer session at the reserve this Saturday - election day.
Media releases and leaflet drops have been circulated by the council over the past two weeks.
Hobsons Bay Council works and assets director Phillip McDonald said dog owners would need to control their dogs but selective plants would help prevent dogs easily entering the wetland.
Mr McDonald said the wetland was not related to an existing stormwater pipe which needs “routine maintenance repairs”.
Williamstown Ward’s Cr Angela Altair said the wetland would be a new feature of the city’s landscape and preserve water.
Mayor Bill Tehan said the native plants would remove 73 kg of nitrogen sediment from stormwater run-off each year.
Melbourne Water, providing funding and management expertise, said it had built about 50 stormwater quality wetlands over the past 10 years.
The dog walkers say they support stormwater filtration but argued the small area would not fix the whole problem.
The community can submit their thoughts on the proposed wetland until August 28 at hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page-Id=5542
Saturday’s consultation session at the reserve is at 1.30pm.
Source: whereilive
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