MAN'S best friend is celebrating as three of Wagga's parks appear likely to go to the dogs.
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Wagga City Council has announced plans to permanently open up Jack Avenue Reserve in Mount Austin, Glenfield Park in Glenfield and Menneke Park in Estella as new daylight hour off the leash zones, and is calling for public submissions on the proposal.
The last time council reviewed off leash parks was about five years ago. The review was met with negative community feedback, prompting council to put off immediate plans for more off leash parks.
Council's manager of regulatory services, Greg Minehan, does not expect many problems to arise from free-roam parks this time around.
"We've had some really positive submissions."
"It appears from the community consultation that the mindset has changed," he said.
"We have had some really positive submissions."
Mr Minehan said the location of the three new sites was chosen because they are growth suburbs with an increasing number of pets.
He said council has a legislative responsibility to provide more free-roam parks where possible.
However, some residents have expressed concerns about the lack of fencing at free roam parks on council's "your say" community website.
"Not having a fenced area is not good as most dogs are not road conscience (sic)," one user wrote.
"Some pack dogs run and do not come back if not fenced in."
Nikita McAdam, a veterinary science student at Charles Sturt University, regularly walks her rottweiler x cattle dog, and doesn't worry about a lack of fencing at free roam parks.
Miss McAdam said the parks are better for a dog's health.
"It's a lot more in their normal nature to be running around off the leash than on," she said.
"It's good for them to be able to interact with each other and, obviously, be able to get enough exercise."
Mr Minehan said normal dog control legislation still applied at free-roam parks.
"The person who is in control of the dog must remain in control at the end of the day."
Council will review the proposal at its September meeting.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said the new off leash zones would be in operation for 24 hours. The proposal states they will be open during daylight hours only.
