IRATE locals have taken up a fight against a second dog park in the Mitcham hills.

Belair resident David Miller has collected a 192-signature petition opposing plans for a new dog park at Hannaford Park.

The reserve was earmarked as the site for a new dog park — the second in the Mitcham district — in the council’s dog and cat management plan endorsed last year.

Mr Miller, who lives near the reserve, said it risked losing its place as a community meeting spot if it was fenced off for dogs.

“It has a good community feel,” Mr Miller said.

“People are there in the morning and evening and have a chat. Putting in a dog park would change the whole ambience and turn the park into a one-use park rather than a multi-use park like it is now.

media_camera Lyn Height holding poodle-cross Fluffy at Hannaford Park last year. Picture: Mark Brake

“We have kids going out there kicking the footy, playing cricket, picnics and all that. That would all be finished.”

He said the residents he had spoken to immediately around the park were “absolutely irate” about the proposal.

“Some people have spent a lot of money doing up their garden and having an open fence to look into the park, and they don’t want another fenced-off area and a whole pile of dogs running around,” he said.

media_camera Councillor Jane Bange.

He was happy for people to let their dogs run in Hannaford Park — for which it was often used — but did not want it to “turn into a CC Hood Reserve” at Panorama, which he described as “an ugly-looking fenced-off area”.

Mr Miller also raised issues with public consultation on the proposed site, which he believed had been inadequate.

Mitcham councillor Jane Bange said she was “strongly in favour” of a dog park in the hills.

“Of the biggest dog-owning suburbs, four are in the hills,” Cr Bange said.

“If we want to provide local facilities so people don’t have to drive to Panorama, it makes sense to have one up here.”

She said she would consider studies, staff recommendations and community sentiment when making a decision on a location for the dog park.

A survey conducted town planning firm Harlock Jackson, and included in the dog and cat management plan, found only 23 of 124 respondents favoured Hannaford Park as the location for a second dog park.

The most popular option was Hawthorndene Oval, with 42 positive responses.