A proposed off-leash dog park at Webb Oval would provide separate fenced exercise areas for large and small dogs.
UPDATE — September 4, 2026: This article has been updated after a reader asked for clarification about the $145,000 previously identified for the dog park and a $350,000 allocation in Council’s 2026-27 budget. Council’s year-end reporting shows the original $145,000 budget was reduced during 2025-26, while $350,000 has been budgeted for the project in 2026-27.
Public feedback on Moree’s proposed Webb Oval off-leash dog park closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, September 6, as residents raise questions about the location, flooding, the existing dog area and what the first stage will deliver.
Council documents show why Webb Oval was preferred. The site has enough space for separate large and small dog areas, already has basic services and facilities, is easy to reach from town and the highway, and has room for future parking. The documents also explain why the existing Carbeen Street dog area was not chosen and confirm Webb Oval is flood prone.
Why Webb Oval?
Moree Plains Shire Council described Webb Oval as an unused sporting field with about 14,300 square metres available for the proposed dog park.
Council said the site was large enough for separate areas for large and small dogs and already had toilets, water, electricity, a barbecue, dump point, shelter and benches. It is also connected to the CBD by shared paths and can be reached from Moree’s main roads.
Council also viewed its location near the highway as useful for travellers with dogs. The site is visible from surrounding roads, which Council said would provide passive surveillance, and there is enough space for future car, caravan and trailer parking.
Webb Oval was one of three sites assessed. Council also considered the Lloyd Oval river corridor and the existing Carbeen Street off-leash area before naming Webb Oval as its preferred location.
Why not improve the existing dog area?
Residents have questioned why Council could not fence and improve the existing off-leash area in Carbeen Street, opposite the cemetery.
Council’s report said the site was underused and would need major investment to bring it up to the standard needed for a fenced dog park. More importantly, Council said the land is zoned SP1 Special Activities (Cemetery) and is required for the future expansion of Moree cemetery.
Carbeen Street did have some advantages. Council found it was the least flood-prone of the three sites and already had water and electricity.
However, the assessment also identified poor ground conditions and weeds, no designated parking, low visibility and possible parking conflicts during funerals.
What happens when Webb Oval floods?
Flooding is another concern being raised about the proposed location, and Council’s own assessment confirms Webb Oval is flood prone.
The report says infrastructure at the site may be damaged above the 5 per cent Annual Exceedance Probability, or 20-year, flood level. Council still ranked Webb Oval as the preferred site after comparing it with the other locations.
The documents supplied do not set out how long the dog park might be unusable after flooding or what repairs could be required following a flood.
What would the first stage deliver?
Council’s October 2025 report identified an original budget of $145,000 for the off-leash dog park during the 2025-26 financial year.
The first stage was proposed to include fencing and gates for separate large and small dog areas, concrete at the entrances, water service connections, bins, waste bag dispensers and signs. Council listed about 2990 square metres for small dogs and 8810 square metres for large dogs.
Council’s Quarter 4 report for 2025-26 now provides a clearer picture of what happened to that funding.
The report shows the project began the financial year with an original budget of $145,000, but Council later adopted a $120,000 reduction, leaving a current 2025-26 budget of $25,000. Actual expenditure to June 30 was $8,965.
At the end of June, Council assessed the project as 25 per cent complete and “at risk”. It said the concept plan and quantity surveyor’s cost estimate for Stage 1 had been completed, while community engagement and project delivery had been deferred to the first quarter of 2026-27.
Council’s adopted 2026-27 Operational Plan now lists construction of the Webb Oval Off-Leash Dog Park as a capital project to be completed during the current financial year.
The accompanying capital works program allocates $350,000 to the off-leash park in 2026-27.
The documents do not establish that the $350,000 is simply in addition to the original $145,000 allocation. Instead, they show that the 2025-26 budget was reduced to $25,000 before the project moved into 2026-27 with a new $350,000 budget.
Council had previously proposed completing further stages as more Council or grant funding became available.
Future work identified in the earlier concept included formal and accessible parking, widening the driveway from Boggabilla Road and parking for RVs and caravans. Drinking water points, seating, shade structures, irrigation, trees, landscaping and dog agility equipment were also listed for later stages.
The concept plan shows how the two fenced exercise areas, vehicle access, parking and landscaping could fit across the Webb Oval site.
What else are residents raising?
Public comments visible on Facebook are not a poll and cannot show what Moree as a whole thinks about the proposal. They do, however, show several practical issues being raised by residents.
Some residents support a secure place where dogs can exercise and socialise, while comments have also focused on fencing, separate areas for large and small dogs, shade, water, seating and maintained grass. Others have questioned the location near the road and whether Council should spend money improving the existing dog area instead.
Broader concerns about Council priorities and the delivery of planned projects have also been raised. Roaming dogs have entered the discussion, although controlling roaming animals is a separate issue from providing an off-leash exercise area.
The comments do not provide a clear verdict for or against the dog park. They show residents are asking questions about where it should go, what it should include and how the project would work.
Residents who want to support the proposal, oppose it or suggest changes can complete Council’s online survey before 11.59pm on Sunday, September 6.
