CLEVELAND locals say dog attacks, abuse and stalking is rife at Raby Bay Foreshore Park and have called on council to act before someone is seriously injured.
A Cleveland couple, who did not want to be named, said the problem had become so bad that they formed a committee to lobby council but their concerns had been largely ignored.
Raby Bay homeowner Matthew Robinson, whose dog was injured in an attack at the park, said time limits should be considered for the off-leash area to keep its growing popularity under control.
Cr Peter Mitchell said all options for reform should be on the table, including creating a formal boundary around the dog park.
He said he was aware of the conflicts that had taken place and had sympathy for residents, but acknowledged that there were still people that wanted the park to remain an off-leash space.
Mr Robinson said the first step was greater council management, as he feared overcrowding would lead to a serious incident.
"A lot of the dogs when they are together in groups, unless they are really obedient and their owners are on the ball, they run in a pack uncontrollably," he said.
"About two years ago I took my granddaughters over there and dogs came up to the stroller and I had to shoo them away.
"...That is when I first though that the council had to do a bit of regulating.
"I haven't got anything against dogs or people using the park, but it is getting very busy and there will be accidents and there will be a dog molested again."
The couple said people from as far away as Ipswich and Toowoomba had been visiting the park.
They said they had been abused and witnessed their own dog being attacked.
Mr Robinson said the beach had also been destroyed by erosion from overcrowding.
"The park has gotten busier and the council aren't allocating enough resources to its general welfare," he said.
Cr Mitchell said he believed the park's management was adequate but tough conversations needed to be had about whether it would stay an off-leash park in future.
"Doing nothing is not an option," he said.
"What is the council policy moving forward?"
"If that park keeps growing in popularity, is there room for everything that is likely to happen?
"I am not pumping for one way or the other, but that is a band-aid that needs to be ripped off over the next couple of years."
According to the residents, conversations with council had already taken place but nothing at the park had changed.
Cr Mitchell said he had requested that briefings and workshops be offered to councillors about places like Raby Bay Foreshore Park.
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