27/08/2026
A reserve in Illawong where dogs are currently prohibited could be transformed into a new off-leash dog park under a proposal being considered by Sutherland Shire Council.
Council has opened community consultation on the future of Friendship Place Reserve at 39 Osprey Drive, Illawong, identifying the site as a possible location for a dedicated off-leash area.
The proposal comes as Council looks to address what it says is a gap in off-leash facilities around the Illawong and Alfords Point area.
Friendship Place Reserve is currently designated as a no-dogs reserve, however Council says the site has several features that could make it suitable for a future dog park, including open space, existing on-street parking and a bushland buffer separating parts of the reserve from nearby homes.
The reserve has also previously been identified by both Council and members of the community as a potential location for an off-leash facility.
At this stage, no final design has been prepared and Council says the consultation process will help determine whether the reserve is suitable and, if supported, what a future dog park could include.
Residents are being asked for feedback on how they currently use the reserve, whether they support an off-leash area and any issues they believe Council should consider as part of the proposal.
Community consultation is open until Monday 21 September 2026 - https://jointheconversation.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/planning-for-friendship-place-reserve-illawong
If progressed, the proposal would give dog owners in Illawong and surrounding suburbs another dedicated off-leash option while changing the existing rules that currently prohibit dogs from the reserve.
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