Final plans released for Hurstbridge Dog Park

Published on 23 March 2026

Council has endorsed the final concept plan for Hurstbridge Dog Park, following a community consultation process that attracted strong local interest and valuable feedback.

A consistent theme throughout the consultation period was the importance of maintaining a natural design that reflects Hurstbridge’s character and focuses on core community needs, rather than over-developing the site.

Several features of the draft concept plan were strongly supported and have been retained in the final design, including:

• Inclusion and location of a passive dog area
• Shelters in each area
• Bench seats throughout the park
• Low-impact, low-spill solar lighting at entry points, under shelters and within the dog park

Following community feedback, several updates have also been made to the design:

• Proposed USB chargers under shelters have been removed
• The external gravel path has been extended to provide direct access to the passive dog area from both the northern and southern ends of the park

Mayor Naomi Joiner said the final plan strikes the right balance between functionality, accessibility and preserving the natural character of the site.

“This project demonstrates how community feedback directly shapes the outcomes we deliver.”

“We’ve listened carefully and refined the design to ensure the dog park meets local needs while maintaining the open and natural feel valued by residents.”

Further updates on construction timelines will be shared as the project progresses and can be viewed at Participate Nillumbik.