Local government has responsibility for most open space and has a higher profile at the local level.
Fragmentation of responsibility between different levels of government and between different local authorities has led to duplication of resources for some activities and gaps in provision for others. For dogs it may be leading to gaps - state government officials tend to view dog owners' needs as a local responsibility while some local authorities view it as a regional responsibility that should lie with the state government. Some parks, especially state and national parks, are now managed in accordance with approved management plans that aim to better manage conflicts, particularly environmental ones. Management tools include restrictions on human access or establishing different zones in the one park, e.g. an environmental protection emphasis in some parts of a park and a human recreation emphasis in other parts. This is mostly only a potential threat at this stage and should not be overstated.