Sunraysia dog owners are encouraged to come together this Friday to mark the official opening of the newly completed Rio Vista Off Leash Dog Park.
Mildura Deputy Mayor Cyndi Power said the Off Leash Dog Park was very much a community success story for the region and would be celebrated at 10am this Friday with an invitation for local pet owners to join together and enjoy the park with their four-legged friends.
"This project was instigated by the community, driven by the community and ultimately, has been created for the community to use and enjoy," Cr Power said.
The Off Leash Dog Park started as a trial project in 2017 following requests from the region's many dog owners for a place for their pets to enjoy with other like-minded residents.
Following a successful trial period, a community working group of residents, including pet owners, was formed to work with Council to help guide the features and amenities the completed park should include.
Work on the resulting comprehensive suite of features and amenities started in January this year following a $192,000 funding boost through the Victorian Government's Suburban Parks Program.
The features include:
- full perimeter fencing, including improved fencing to make the park more secure for dogs and their owners
- a dividing fence to provide separate areas for small and large dogs
- upgraded gates and a new transition area where dogs can be safely led in and have their leash removed before entering the main park area
- improved ground conditions to reduce prickles
- planting 20 additional trees (native species) in the park to provide natural shade
- additional separate drinking water fountains for dogs and their owners
- play spaces for dogs, including a sand section
- seating and tables
- steps from the off leash dog park to the Rio Vista steps to improve access
- new signage
Cr Power thanked everyone who contributed to the project.
"Our community in particular has played such an important role in making sure we got this right, and I'd like to thank them for their patience as we progressed the park from the trial several years ago to the completed project," she said.
"It's only through their valuable feedback and ideas, and the generous funding from the Victorian Government, that we've been able to create such a fantastic venue.
"The construction period over the past 12 months has also provided a valuable boost to the Mildura economy with 100% of contractors used on the site sourced locally from the Sunraysia region."
Cr Power said the location of the Off Leash Dog Park was another important part of its success.
"The park is ideally located within walking distance of the CBD, as well as serving as an activation point for the Lock 11 end of the riverfront redevelopment," she said.
"By utilising this patch of land for the dog park, which was previously underutilised, it has essentially extended our riverfront precinct, allowing it to stretch from Nowingi Place to Lock 11."
