Developing Callan Park’s Companion Animals Management Plan

Greater Sydney Parklands

Callan Park Companion Animals Management Plan

Launched on 27 June 2022, Companion Animals Management Plan for Callan Park provides direction for Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) to support the management and regulation of companion animals in Callan Park, including clearly identifying on- and off-leash areas for dogs, and the required infrastructure, amenities and experiences for dogs and their owners.

Cred was thrilled to partner with Greater Sydney Parklands to develop this Plan over 18 months alongside the community. The community voice was at the forefront of the Plan’s development and lead to an outcome that has been welcomed across the board – one that is fair and provides equitable access to this important and much-loved open space for everyone, while protecting important heritage, cultural and natural assets.

Services
  • Engagement
  • Strategy
Share

How we did it

Callan Park’s large and unique open green spaces are important for all user groups in the local community and for visitors, supporting health and wellbeing, particularly in light of the high-density living in Sydney’s Inner West.

Cred, with GSP, undertook extensive consultation with dog owners, commercial walkers, local community groups, sporting groups, general park users and the local community in two stages.

The first stage (between April and May 2021) was designed to find out how current visitors use the park and how they want to see dogs managed. The engagement program included a mix of online and face-to-face opportunities for the community to participate in and included an online survey with an interactive map, on-site intercept surveys with park users, pop-up events, online workshops, a webinar, stakeholder telephone interviews and a focus group with randomly selected park users from the area.

The engagement program generated 1,021 responses to an online survey, 520 responses from an interactive map, 7 telephone interviews with peak recreation user groups, 33 attendees at a community webinar, 31 intercept surveys on the ground at Callan Park and 23 local residents attended a focus group.

We developed a draft CAMP based on feedback and submissions received from this initial consultation. The draft CAMP was then placed on public exhibition from 6 December 2021 to 9 February 2022. Stakeholders were directly briefed, and feedback was received via an online survey, direct submissions and participation in community webinar. A total of 450 survey responses and submissions were received during the exhibition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The outcome

GSP took on board all the community feedback received in the final plan, which will deliver a safe place for dogs, their owners and the broader community.

The final Companion Animals Management Plan is underpinned by a sound decision-making framework that is clear and transparent. The CAMP provides direction for GSP to support the management and regulation of companion animals in Callan Park, including clearly identifying on- and off-leash areas for dogs, and the required infrastructure, amenities and experiences for dogs and their owners.

The final Companion Animals Management Plan was endorsed on 27 June 2022 and came into effect from 1 July 2022. The CAMP will be monitored and reviewed over time, ensuring clarity for all park users (including four-legged ones).