West Wimmera Shire Council has secured funding to construct a dedicated off-leash dog park at the Kaniva Wetlands and Fauna Park.
The Kaniva site is a popular rest stop for both residents and travellers, offering existing features such as a playground, walking track, outdoor gym, and public toilets. However, it currently lacks a safe, designated space for dogs to exercise off-leash. This project will address that gap while enhancing the overall functionality and appeal of the area.
The new off-leash dog park will be located on the current lawn area within the Kaniva Fauna Park. Key features of the development will include:
Secure fencing with a safety airlock entry/exit
Holding yard for safe transition in and out of the off-leash area
Accessible footpaths and park bench seating
Water fountain with dog and human access
Bin and dog bag dispenser
Signage and wayfinding
To offset the repurposing of the lawn, a new green space will be created near the barbecue and playground area. Landscaping will include shrub relocation, a new sprinkler system, and freshly laid turf to maintain usable open space within the park.
The dog park is targeted to provide an area for small to medium sized dogs and is approximately 500m2. Kaniva is lucky enough to have a wide open-spaced recreation reserve that is suitable for larger dogs hence the targeting of smaller breeds.
During initial research it was noted that larger regional and metropolitan areas do require a larger dog park and more robust surfaces (such as crusher dust) due to the high number of visitors daily. While this is the case in these larger centres, Council is confident the provided dog park in Kaniva will suit the target demographic without the area becoming overcrowded.
While the area on the old racecourse reserve is large, it is currently leased out for other purposes. Additionally, crime prevention and existing lack of infrastructure (roads, pathways etc) have confirmed this option to be unsuitable for current development, however it may be considered for larger developments in the future.
Council is committed to ensuring that users of the wetlands are not adversely affected by the proposed development. As such, the area to the southeast of the proposed dog park will be transformed from a bark chipped area into an irrigated lawn of approximately 714m2 in size. This new picnic area will be closer to amenities such as the BBQ, play equipment and toilets promoting a welcoming family environment.
In the initial investigation of suitable sites in Kaniva Madden Street across from the public toilets was considered. While it does have advantages such as proximity to local businesses, the proximity to traffic and houses make this location unsuitable from a safety and amenity impact standpoint. Council is confident that positive impacts to businesses will still occur from visitors purchasing goods to enjoy while visiting the dog park.
The wetlands is a hub for both existing local and tourist usage with existing infrastructure to support visitors while having none of the highlighted issues such as proximity to housing. By creating a separate lawn area, any potential impact on current users is mitigated.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
State Government’s New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program$90,000
Kaniva Dog Park design(PDF, 651KB)