Wadmore Park/Pulyonna Wirra is a popular and unique park within Campbelltown City Council and is becoming increasingly important as one of very few surviving in an urban area. It contains a significant amount of remnant vegetation and biodiversity (over 132 different animals and 266 different plants) including several nationally threatened species. Because of this, the park is also becoming an important seed bank for Council, local volunteer groups and the Department of Environment and Water.

Council recently developed the Wadmore Park/Pulyonna Wirra Management Plan 2021-2026 to look at how best to manage the park for the future, given the number of challenges present, and how to balance this with the range of different uses and interests.

As part of the new management plan, Council is trialing a transition to dogs on lead within Wadmore Park/Pulyonna Wirra. Over the next 2 years, Council will be providing information and advice to residents to assist with this transition. Foxfield Oval will remain off-leash “under effective control” (while no sporting events are on).

We hope the community can appreciate the rationale behind this decision as we look to preserve an important part of our history and area.

Why is Council introducing dog on leash to Wadmore Park/Pulyonna Wirra?

The impact of dogs in the park is not necessarily as visible as evidence of dog urine or faeces. There are unseen effects from dogs in parks such as modifying the behaviour of native fauna amongst other things, however Council acknowledges there are also impacts by other species and will look at measures where it can to control these.   Dogs that meander throughout the Park off track can directly impact on the Park by trampling on seedling recruitment and/or threatened species, bringing in weed seeds from the edge of the Park into the core areas and disturbing birds and other wildlife. Similarly, there are impacts (albeit unintended) from dog-owners who walk off track to retrieve their dogs. Additional impacts of dogs in park can be found in section 6.3.2. of the Wadmore Park/Pulyonna Wirra Management Plan 2021-2026.

It is also acknowledged that other non-native mammals can have an impact on the biodiversity and health of the Park. Local residents have observed domestic and feral cats as well as foxes within and around the Park and these species are known to kill native birds, smaller mammals and reptiles. Red Foxes have officially been recorded in the Park (Nature Glenelg Trust/Landcare Group 2020) and their presence is likely to pose considerable threats to native wildlife (through predation and disease) and increase the spread and growth of weeds as they can disperse weed seeds via scats. Council will aim to actively monitor the Park to determine the abundance of domestic cats and foxes and address accordingly.

Council acknowledges that the community enjoy walking their dog in the park and are looking for a balance to continuing enabling people to do this whilst providing protective measures for the flora and fauna in the park.