Heathcote residents to have say on site of new dog park

The City of Greater Bendigo has allocated $85,000 for the new park in the 2019/20 budget following a petition with 800 signatures being presented to council.

Two options are on Herriot Street between Depot Road and Ebden Street while the third is on Pink Cliffs Road near Last Street.

Council public space design team landscape architect Jane Marriott said the main starting point of the project was the petition from residents.

"About 800 people requested an off leash dog park in Heathcote for socialising of dogs," she said. "So it came from the community and they had a site in mind, with option A was their preferred site.

"We saw a few issues with that site, so have looked at other sites to see what was possible. We came up with the B and C options. All have their strengths and weaknesses."

Council has put plans and displays in the municipal offices in Heathcote, Heathcote IGA and the neighbourhood house.

Two listening posts are planned to allow residents to have their say on their preferred location.

One will be at at the Heathcote Bush Market between 9am and 12pm on Saturday, July 6. The other will be at the front of Gaffney's Bakery from 12pm to 1.30pm on Tuesday, July 9.

Ms Marriott said it was important dog owners looked at the options and had their say.

"There are also signs at each of the options on the path, so people can visualise what each space could look like," she said.

"It is worthwhile for residents to go to each site and have a look to see what they feel the possibilities are.

"(This project) wouldn't have happened without such a response to that petition. Now we are asking people, over the next three weeks, to (tell us) which option they like."

When the site is chosen, council will begin planning for construction.

"Once the site is finalised, we can get quotes for fencing, some path work and a bit of earth works depending on which site is selected," Ms Marriott said. "But the money is there ready to go. By the end of July we will know which site it is."

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