Melanie Smith’s dogs enjoying the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area. Photo: Melanie Smith.
The roller-coaster ride on the future of the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area in Tuggeranong has taken another turn.
Senior executives from ACT Parks and Conservation reportedly met with local dog owners over the long weekend to deliver “welcome news” about the ACT Government’s plans for the 20-acre swathe of nature, only to later say no decision has been made yet.
“After weeks of heartfelt public concern, and strong support from across Canberra, we were personally told … the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area will remain off-leash,” Melanie Smith told Region on Saturday (8 June).
“This is a huge win for our dogs, our people, and the many families who rely on PHDEA for exercise, connection and wellbeing.”
The future of the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area, situated on the corner of Jim Pike Avenue and Woodcock Drive in the southern suburb of Gordon, is currently under consideration by the government’s Conservator of Flora and Fauna.
With the new Lanyon Dog Park set to open on the same site by the end of 2025 — a fenced space that allows dogs to be off-leash — the Conservator is considering making the existing area on-leash only.
In a statement to Region, the ACT Government said this is because the PHDEA is located within a “Special Purpose Reserve”.
“Special Purpose Reserves are managed in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and are subject to Activities Declarations made under the Act by the Conservator of Flora and Fauna,” the spokesperson said.
The government said the Parks and Conservation Service was “reviewing the current Activities Declaration” for the area to decide where dogs should be allowed – off leash or on leash, or prohibited entirely.
An image showing how the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area compares to the new Lanyon Dog Park. Photo: Melanie Smith.
Dog owners like Ms Smith argued the new dog park was no match for what they currently enjoy, and launched an online petition to “keep the the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area open to the public as an approved off-leash facility”.
So far, it has attracted nearly 1200 signatures.
“It’s my morning meditation, if I’m honest,” Ms Smith said.
“I’m an early-morning riser, so my routine is to get up at 4:30 am, go to the gym, come back and take my two dogs for a sunrise walk. And while they’re sniffing around, I get to walk quietly, enjoying my solitude and watching the sun come up over the mountains.”
It’s why she – and hundreds of others – were overjoyed to receive news from ACT Parks and Conservation’s senior director that the surrounding land is still “under review” but the current area is “safe”.
“This outcome is a testament to what respectful community action can achieve. We’re incredibly grateful to those who showed up, signed, shared, donated and walked the extra mile (sometimes literally) to defend the space that means so much.”
Canberra Liberals MLA Deborah Morris, who sponsored the petition, also jumped on the news as “a victory for common sense over senseless bureaucracy”.
“This is just another example of how Canberrans can force the government to overturn bad decisions that have occurred because of their failure to listen to the community.”
However, it turns out there is a caveat.
This morning, Ms Smith received notice from the government that the Conservator has not yet reached a final decision.
“It’s all good, but one point of clarification is that, whilst I have worked with the Conservator’s Office to develop the map we looked at and are planning towards [off-leash] status, the Conservator himself has not formally decided,” the executive wrote in a message seen by Region.
ACT Parks and Conservation executives met with Melanie Smith and other local dog owners on Saturday, 8 June. Photo: Melanie Smith.
Ms Smith was disappointed by the update, and warned she and the group of petitioners “will change tack if they don’t approve”.
The Conservator acts on behalf of the government’s Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate “on issues that affect matters relating to the conservation of local environment”.
While ACT Parks and Conservation doesn’t have the power to “direct” the Conservator’s decisions, it can make recommendations.
The ACT Government was contacted for comment.
