I’m humming that John Lennon song “Power to the People” this week as I reflect on the recent battle over Point Hut Dog Exercise Area.
The controversy began when the ACT Government built the new Lanyon Dog Park adjacent to the existing exercise area. This was a 2020 election promise — at the time of writing, not quite open, although it should be very soon — who knew a dog park could take 5 years to build. While the new facility looks like it is going to be great, local residents quickly realised the new park was quite small, and a huge reduction in dog exercise space compared to the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area which has enabled dogs of all sizes to run, socialise, and simply be dogs for around two decades.
The environmental sensitivity argument used to justify restricting the existing area raised eyebrows among locals who know the land well. Not only have dogs been running around there for decades, but according to some local residents, the same land was used as a building waste dump during Gordon’s development in the 1990s and is now overrun with blackberries. Dogs have been safely contained by fencing, kept well away from the Murrumbidgee River corridor and the Bicentennial Trail. The suggestion that this particular patch of disturbed land suddenly required protection seemed disingenuous to those who use it regularly.
The community’s response was swift and organised. A petition to the Legislative Assembly gained momentum rapidly, with around 1000 signatures. Local MLAs, including Caitlin Tough, Deborah Morris and Mark Parton, visited the site and voiced support for residents’ concerns. The campaign highlighted a fundamental disconnect between government decision-making and community needs.
The resolution, announced in July, vindicated the community’s efforts. The Conservator of Flora and Fauna accepted advice from ACT Parks and Conservation Service that the core off-leash areas could remain accessible while protecting genuinely environmentally sensitive zones. New signage will clarify boundaries, and a short on-leash corridor will connect the two off-leash zones.
This outcome represents more than just a win for dog owners. It’s a reminder that community voices — all too often ignored — do matter in urban planning decisions. The original proposal appeared to follow a familiar pattern: government builds new facilities while quietly reducing existing ones, hoping residents won’t notice or complain. When challenged, officials invoke bureaucratic complexity or environmental concerns to deflect criticism.
The Point Hut Dog Exercise Area campaign succeeded because residents refused to accept this approach. They organised professionally, engaged respectfully, and presented clear evidence that their concerns were legitimate.
As Canberra continues expanding, the Point Hut Dog Exercise Area community victory offers valuable lessons. Communities deserve transparency about proposed changes to beloved facilities. Environmental concerns must be legitimate and evidence-based, not convenient excuses for unpopular decisions. Future planning processes should include meaningful consultation from the outset, particularly when existing community facilities are at stake. When residents (and in this case, their dogs) unite behind reasonable causes, their voices can be heard in the corridors of power.
For further discussion on this topic, head to Bite-sized politics (around 15 minutes easy listening) on Spotify.
