A MAINTENANCE depot on Swan View’s Balfour Road has been turned into an off-leash dog exercise area which residents say needs a separate area for smaller dogs to play in.

The fenced-off and unused Mundaring maintenance depot was repurposed as an off-leash dog park after the shire installed a water pipe and a double gate system.

The Swan View dog exercise area on 62 Balfour Road has become a popular community meeting point for dog owners, with local coffee van operators Carl and Trina Pinner now setting up their On D Run Coffee van onsite six days a week.

Swan View resident Elle Rachel formed a Swan View Dog Park Facebook group and said she hoped to gain support for the group’s request for an exercise area dedicated to smaller dogs.

Group members invited Mundaring councillors and state election candidates for the seat of Midland to visit the park on February 16 to gain support for the creation of a dog run for smaller dogs.

Since then, Labor candidate Steve Catania and independent candidate Sarah Howlett have met with group members at the site and shown support for the smaller dog run at the park.

Mundaring West Ward councillor Jo Cicchini also met the group at the park and acknowledged the success of the exercise area and the need for a separate small dog area but explained the shire was prioritising a larger development at Brown Park.

Ms Cicchini explained the Brown Park project also included a dog exercise area but lacked a designated small dog run and encouraged the community to submit an official request to the shire, which she was willing to support.

With growing local backing, Ms Rachel has put her hand up to submit an official request to the shire on behalf of the group.

Mr Catania said he would be in support of Ms Rachel’s efforts, offering state government funding if elected.

“Special thanks to Elle for stepping up as your spokesperson for the Mundaring shire request,” he said.

“I’ll be following your progress and supporting where I can.”

Ms Howlett also said she was willing to help get the dog run across the line if elected.

“Users of the Swan View Dog Park have identified a need for a second fenced-off area to allow smaller dogs and larger dogs to enjoy the dog park separately, should they choose to,” she said.

“It was great to hear about their vision for this great community initiative and learn how I could support them when elected by liaising with the local government bodies and advocating for state government funding.”