The western area of Wishart Reserve is a dedicated and secure dog off-leash space. This reserve is extremely popular among dog walkers, which has led to heavy wear and tear and deterioration of some of the existing surfaces and infrastructure.

The upgrade is designed to provide a more enriching exercise and training experience for dogs and their walkers. It will also improve the local environment through Increased native and indigenous plantings and mulched garden beds, which will help to address issues with dust.

New infrastructure and vegetation within the dog off-leash area is intended to provide a safer and more enjoyable experience for all visitors to the reserve.

Introducing dog agility equipment including hurdles, tunnels, weave poles and bridges will enhance the play and exercise experience for dogs and provide dog owners with the tools to develop different skills and competencies in their dogs. You can view the proposed equipment on the project homepage.

Further improvements to the area will include features such as a new perimeter path, double gated entry to the fenced off leash area, additional dog water bowls with taps and more vegetation.

The reserve will showcase a range of vegetation including shrubs, grasses and large trees, which are all safe for dogs. Select the leaf icons on the interactive map to see the plants proposed for each area in the park.

The dog off-leash area will need to be closed for a short time to ensure safety while we complete the upgrade. Works are expected to run for up to 3 months from May 2023.

During construction, the nearest reserves where dogs are permitted off-leash are RJ Sillitoe on Lawson Street and WL Simpson Reserve on Fewster Road. While using these reserves, dogs must be kept on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training. Find out when these sportsgrounds are allocated to community sport to help plan your visits.

Our interactive map will also help you discover more places to walk your dog off-leash: bayside.vic.gov.au/walkies

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This type of equipment helps dog owners develop different skills and competencies in their dogs.

The proposed equipment supports obedience training (e.g. sit–stay platforms), agility (e.g. jump hoops, weave poles) and confidence development (e.g. step platform and bridge) activities.

No. The equipment is designed to considerably lower heights than competition agility equipment. It simulates competition equipment but is primarily designed for developing competencies and confidence in a wide range of dogs.

Dog owners should understand their dog’s limitations and use this to guide how they introduce their dogs to the equipment.

Young dogs should not be taken on to equipment that involves jumping because their shoulder girdle and joints are not developed enough to withstand these activities.

Care must also be taken to ensure older dogs are not pushed beyond their capabilities.

Regardless of age, dog owners must be alert for any tentative or fearful behaviours in their dog(s).

Owners should make sure they know how to teach and encourage their dogs to use the equipment before introducing their dog(s) to the equipment gradually and with patience.

Joining a local dog club or reading relevant books is a good way to make sure dog owners well understand how to get the best out of equipment.

New and upgraded facilities often see a short to medium term increase in visitors, as well as vehicular traffic in the vicinity. Typically, visitation usually returns to ‘normal’ levels within a few months.

Construction will commence in mid-2023 with the park set to re-open to the community in the later half of the year. Select the blue +Subscribe button at the top of the page to receive project updates.