Plans will be drawn up for an enclosed dog park at the Leslie Street Reserve in Dudley Park, after City of Mandurah councillors voted in favour of the location at last month's council meeting.
The City has been considering a dog park for a number of years and set the ball in motion in April last year, asking residents for their thoughts about seven potential locations.
The Leslie Street Reserve was selected after "record levels" of public consultation because it is centrally located, has adequate space, good grass covering and plenty of shade.
The decision to move forward with the design comes after elected representatives deferred the item at the previous council meeting on November 26, to allow for more community feedback.
Councillors dismissed concerns the location was too close to a busy highway, outlined in a deputation from Peekaboo Doggy Day Care owner Janine Pace.
Ms Pace cited particular concerns for the high traffic volume in the area and suggested using Mary Street in Halls Head instead.
Councillor Don Pember agreed, speaking against the recommendation.
"[Leslie Street] is too close to a major four-lane highway and I believe the lot is too small," he said.
"I believe parking and traffic control from the highway and Leslie Street is a conflict between boat users and dog owners.
"I believe the surface of Leslie Street, having walked it, is very prickly, which could have an adverse affect on dog's paws."
Councillor Ahmed Zilani also voiced his concerns about the Leslie Street location.
"There are still a few questions regarding the site selection so we shouldn't hurry to make this decision," he said.
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Despite this, council voted in favour of approving a detailed design of a fully fenced dog park at Leslie Street.
Deputy mayor Caroline Knight threw her support behind the Leslie Street Reserve and thanked everyone involved for their work in the project.
"The dog park has been long sought by many people from the north and the south of our community," she said.
"This location, while it presents some challenges, is very easy to access if you're coming from the north or the south.
"There is going to be quite a lot of money spent on this park so we want all members of the community to have easy access to it to maximise its use."
While responsible off-lead areas for dogs already exist within Mandurah, the enclosed dog park, which is expected to attract more than 80 dog owners per day, will help to contribute to better socialised dogs and create a community space for dog owners to socialise.
It is not yet known how much the dog park will cost to build however it is expected to cost $25,000 a year in ongoing operational costs.
This will include picking up uncollected dog waste, emptying bins, filling in holes and general repairs.
