Locals back push to reopen Merv Lynch Dog Park, Beverly Hills

The closure of Merv Lynch reserve dog park has left many in Beverly Hills and Narwee without a local dog park, with residents and Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, now fighting for its return.

When signs and fences were taken down at the dog park out of the blue, Penshurst resident Susan Moore was left in disbelief.

“Living on my own, in a unit with no enclosed backyard, as many in my area do, Merv Lynch Reserve has given my dog, Jersey, a safe place to socialise with other dogs and burn off some energy.”

This was the experience of many local residents who used the dog park regularly, when Georges River Council shut down the dog park without warning, due to an alleged influx of antisocial behaviour.

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, said that local residents still need convenient access to community spaces close to where they live.

“I personally met with residents onsite and it is clear that this is an incredibly valued space. It has brought a community of locals together, which is rare nowadays,” Mr Coure said.

“This is an example of Council removing and not replacing a valuable community asset because it was ‘too difficult’ to come up with an actual solution. This has impacted hundreds of locals who used the dog park each and every week.”

One such resident was Joyce Teng, who said that the space was safe and convenient for dogs of all ages and sizes.

“Having lived bordered to this green space for over 30 years, the addition of the dog park was a long-needed update for this space, and it was a pleasure to see this otherwise waste of space be so regularly used by not only hundreds of locals but a small group of regular users who have created a community,” Ms Teng said.

“Our community needs to send a message to Georges River Council and remind them that they work for our community, not the other way round. They should not be able to remove our community assets without the property consultation,” Mr Coure said.

“I am calling on Georges River Council to either re-open Merv Lynch Reserve Dog Park or ensure that a nearby alternate space is made available in the Beverly Hills area, with the community to be fully and consistently consulted throughout this process.”

ENDS