Call for more responsible use of park
Karlkurla Park caretakers have urged pet owners to be more responsible while using the park after multiple reports of dogs running loose and disrupting or injuring wildlife.
The call comes amid speculation a dog ban may be enforced at the park because of dogs being walked off leads and owners neglecting to pick up after them.
While the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has dismissed those rumours, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Urban Landcare Group chief executive Kim Eckert says improvement is needed.
"There is talk about it (the ban) all the time because there is a hassle and it will be an ongoing issue until people start doing the right thing," she said.
"I have seen kangaroos chased by dogs off leads on two occasions, one of which there was a joey in the pouch … and we have seen a couple of rabbits killed in the park as well.
"As obedient as a dog may be, if they see a kangaroo, owners will lose complete control over their pets and it will chase it down."
Ms Eckert said with reports of snake sightings in the park, keeping dogs under control with a lead is for the benefit of the dog, owner and other park users, as well as the wildlife.
She said if the issue increased, serious consideration would need to be made on a ban or other means of keeping the park safe.
"(A ban) wouldn't be out of the question for me if people aren't going to do the right thing," she said.
"It is not a decision for us to make, it is the City's park, but we will be asking them to continually patrol the park.
"I would much rather see people keep their dogs on a lead and pick up their dog poo and have it continue as a dog-friendly park, but people need to learn to do the right thing."
Since last July, rangers have undertaken 1230 dog-park patrols, but specific figures for Karlkurla Park were not available.
City chief executive Don Burnett said rangers used an educational approach during patrols of the park.
"Rangers patrol the park on a random basis, mainly in the late afternoons, offering advice to persons using the park and speaking with offenders before they enter to gain compliance," Mr Burnett said.
Offenders can face fines of $200 for having their dog off a leash and for not picking up after them.
