Community & places · Burwood Council
Burwood Park dog area to be investigated for expansion and upgrades
Unconfirmed minutes record a unanimous vote to examine improvements near the Gardeners Shed, including a larger fenced area, shade, seating and agility equipment, with no funding or construction timetable approved in the resolution.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Burwood Council agreed to investigate upgrades to the designated off-leash dog area near the Gardeners Shed in Burwood Park, according to unconfirmed minutes recording unanimous approval of a motion that could lead to a larger fenced area and new amenities for dog owners and their pets.
Resolution 119/26 calls for Council to examine improvements to ground surfaces, landscaping, shade, seating, amenities and dog agility equipment. Council is also to receive a further report on the findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and possible funding sources.
The resolution does not approve construction or allocate money. It also asks the General Manager to include an assessment of current and future off-leash facilities across the Burwood local government area in a future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study.
Council’s minutes describe Burwood Park as one of five locations in the local government area with designated off-leash exercise opportunities. They say the existing area is limited in size and amenity, is not maintained to a standard commensurate with its use and is poorly suited to current and future demand for dog exercise in the Burwood town centre. The record links possible growth in demand to continued residential growth, including apartment living anticipated around the Burwood North Precinct.
A separate resolution on a proposed trial of off-leash use of Burwood Park’s Upper Oval was amended to remove points 3, 4 and 5. The amended motion recorded Council’s view that off-leash access must be balanced with the needs of organised sport, families, pedestrians and other park users. It passed 5-2, with Councillors David Hull and De Yi Wu-Coshott voting against.
The minutes do not set a date for the further report on facility improvements. They record the decisions at Council’s meeting on 27 October 2026 and state that the minutes will be submitted for confirmation on 17 November 2026.
What deserves a closer look
The facility-improvement resolution authorises investigation and a later report, so the record does not establish a funded upgrade or a construction timetable.
The separate Upper Oval resolution records a balance between off-leash access and the needs of other park users, including organised sport, families and pedestrians.
The supplied minutes are unconfirmed: their closing notice schedules submission for confirmation on 17 November 2026.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will Council receive the further report on Burwood Park improvements?
Which upgrades will the further report recommend, and what indicative costs and funding sources will it identify?
How would any proposed changes affect organised sport and other uses of Burwood Park?
What happens next
Under resolution 119/26 as recorded in the unconfirmed minutes, Council is to investigate opportunities to enhance the existing designated dog off-leash area in Burwood Park.
The recorded resolution calls for Council to receive a further report outlining findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and potential funding sources.
The recorded resolution asks the General Manager to incorporate an assessment of current and future dog off-leash facilities across the local government area into a future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Resolution 119/26 approved investigation of potential expansion and improvements to the existing Burwood Park dog off-leash area, with seven councillors voting for and none against.
119/26 RESOLVED That Council: 1. Investigates opportunities to enhance the existing designated dog off-leash area in Burwood Park, including potential expansion of the fenced area, improvements to ground surfaces, landscaping, shade, seating and amenities, and the introduction of dog agility equipment. 2. Receives a further report outlining the findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and potential funding sources for Council's consideration. 3. Requests the General Manager incorporate an assessment of current and future dog off-leash facilities across the Burwood LGA into Council's future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study, having regard to existing provision, population growth and other community needs. For: Cr Faker, Cr Mannah, Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Mayor John Faker) Reports to Council Mayor Faker left the meeting, the time being 6:37 pm.
Resolution 119/26 and its vote
Open original minutes ↗The quotation calls for a further report on findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and potential funding sources, and requests that the General Manager include an assessment of current and future dog off-leash facilities in a future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study.
2. Receives a further report outlining the findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and potential funding sources for Council's consideration. 3. Requests the General Manager incorporate an assessment of current and future dog off-leash facilities across the Burwood LGA into Council's future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study, having regard to existing provision, population growth and other community needs.
Resolution 119/26, points 2 and 3
Open original minutes ↗The facility-improvement resolution provides for investigation, reporting and a needs assessment, but contains no construction approval, funding allocation or timetable.
119/26 RESOLVED That Council: 1. Investigates opportunities to enhance the existing designated dog off-leash area in Burwood Park, including potential expansion of the fenced area, improvements to ground surfaces, landscaping, shade, seating and amenities, and the introduction of dog agility equipment. 2. Receives a further report outlining the findings, recommended improvements, indicative costs and potential funding sources for Council's consideration. 3. Requests the General Manager incorporate an assessment of current and future dog off-leash facilities across the Burwood LGA into Council's future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study, having regard to existing provision, population growth and other community needs.
Resolution 119/26, complete operative text
Open original minutes ↗The recorded findings identify Burwood Park as one of five locations with designated off-leash opportunities, describe its existing area as limited in size and amenity and inadequately maintained relative to use, and link likely growth in demand to continued residential growth, including apartment living around the Burwood North Precinct.
Notes that: a) Burwood Park is one of five locations within the Burwood LGA in that Council Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 27 October 2026 This is page 10 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026 currently provides designated dog off-leash exercise opportunities b) the existing designated dog off-leash area in Burwood Park, located near the Gardeners Shed, is relatively limited in size and amenity, is not presently maintained to a standard commensurate with the level of use it receives, and is not well suited to meeting the present and future demand for dog exercise within the Burwood town centre c) there is significant and growing use of Burwood Park by residents exercising dogs, reflecting the important role that the Park plays as public open space for residents living in and around the Burwood town centre d) continued residential growth, including the substantial increase in apartment living anticipated in and around the Burwood North Precinct, is likely to increase demand for accessible public open space for a wide variety of recreational purposes, including the exercise of companion animals.
Resolution 128/26, point 1
Open original minutes ↗Resolution 127/26 amended the motion by excluding points 3, 4 and 5, before the record introduces resolution 128/26.
Operational Plan Objective A.5 Manage the allocation and use of community facilities, venues, parks and sports fields Amendment 127/26 RESOLVED That the motion be amended by excluding points 3, 4 and 5. For: Cr Faker, Cr Mannah, Cr Esber, Cr Bhatta, Cr Yang Against: Cr Hull, Cr Wu-Coshott (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor George Mannah) 128/26 RESOLVED That Council: 1.
Amendment 127/26 and introduction of resolution 128/26
Open original minutes ↗The quotation states that off-leash opportunities must be balanced against other park users' needs and records five councillors voting for and two against, with Cr Hull and Cr Wu-Coshott against.
2. Acknowledges that: a) public parks are shared community spaces that should, wherever practicable, accommodate a diverse range of recreational activities and users b) dog owners have a legitimate need for accessible locations in which dogs can be safely exercised off leash, particularly where residents live in apartments or dwellings without substantial private open space c) appropriate off-leash exercise can contribute to dog exercise, socialisation and stimulation, while also providing opportunities for social interaction between members of the community d) the provision of off-leash opportunities must be appropriately balanced against the needs of other park users, including organised sporting activities, informal recreation, children and families, pedestrians and people who may not wish to interact with dogs. For: Cr Faker, Cr Mannah, Cr Esber, Cr Bhatta, Cr Yang Against: Cr Hull, Cr Wu-Coshott (Moved Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott/Seconded Councillor David Hull) Questions On Notice (Item QON1/26) Answers to Questions on Notice File No: 26/49979 Summary This report provides responses from Council officers to questions received from Councillors.
Resolution 128/26, point 2 and vote
Open original minutes ↗The attendance list identifies Councillor David Hull and Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott.
Attendance Councillor John Faker (Mayor) Councillor Pascale Esber (Deputy Mayor) Councillor George Mannah Councillor Sukirti Bhatta Councillor David Hull Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott Councillor Alex Yang Opening of Meeting by the Mayor The Mayor opened the meeting with a prayer and Acknowledgement of Country.
Attendance
Open original minutes ↗The designated space for dogs in Burwood Park is near the Gardeners Shed.
Within Burwood Park, the designated space is a small, fenced area located near the Gardeners Shed. In its present condition, this space is not fit-for-purpose for dogs of varying sizes – it consists of a single, fenced-off area within a relatively constrained space.
Item NM5/26 summary
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This article reports from the unconfirmed minutes of Burwood Council’s meeting held on 27 October 2026. The record states that the minutes will be submitted for confirmation on 17 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Unconfirmed minutes record unanimous approval of resolution 119/26 to investigate upgrades to the existing Burwood Park off-leash area and receive a further report on recommendations, indicative costs and funding sources.
- The General Manager was asked to include current and future off-leash facilities in a future Social, Cultural and Recreational Needs Study.
- The minutes identify five designated off-leash locations in the Burwood local government area and describe the Burwood Park area as limited in size and amenity.
- Resolution 128/26 is recorded as passing 5-2 after an amendment removed points 3, 4 and 5 from the Upper Oval off-leash trial motion.
- No funding, construction approval or completion date appears in the recorded facility-improvement resolution.
Why it matters
- Dog owners and other Burwood Park users may be affected by future changes, but the recorded resolution commits Council to investigation and reporting rather than a funded upgrade.