ORANGE City Council will trial using Riawena Oval as a leash-free area for dogs despite it being regarded as one of the city’s premier cricket grounds.
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Council’s companion animals community committee members will kick off a six-month trial of a dog off-leash area inside the fenced area of Riawena Oval once signage and dog faeces bag dispensers have been installed in the coming weeks.
According to committee member councillor Neil Jones dogs would be allowed on the oval only when it hadn’t been booked by sporting teams for matches or training.
Orange District Cricket Association president Mark Frecklington said while there had been some “question marks” raised by association members, no official objections had been made.
“I think it’s worth a trial to see how it goes,” he said.
Mr Frecklington said dogs already used the area and cricketers already had to contended with dog faeces on the oval.
“This is the biggest issue, so it needs to be satisfactorily controlled,” he said.
Cr Jones agreed the area was already unofficially regarded as being an off-leash area by some dog owners.
“As this area is maintained by council for the whole year it is currently under utilised at many times throughout the year,” Cr Jones said.
“The location of this oval makes it an excellent area for dog off-leash activities within the Calare area of Orange as there is easy access for those walking to the oval and sufficient car parking.”
Cr Jones said he had received no objections to the trial from residents in the area or the cricketing fraternity.
Councillor Glenn Taylor said he had been approached by residents in west Orange concerned about the oval’s suitability as a leash-free area.
Cr Taylor said he inspected the site and the current fencing was not suitable for containing dogs.
“I think there are plenty of other green areas in Orange,” he said.
“This is one of Orange’s premier cricket grounds, I think deciding to make the area leash free would be a bad decision.”
Cr Taylor said any sports teams that used the ground would be forced to clean away dog faeces themselves.
He said he understands there is demand for a leash-free area in the precinct but would like councillors to investigate more suitable areas including the grassy area that borders the rear of Riawena Oval.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au