Popular dog walking path at Varsity Lakes devoid of poo bags

Residents of a lakeside suburb are at their wits end after a popular walk was covered in dog poo – with not a tidy bag in sight. But council is playing the blame game. HAVE YOUR SAY

Varsity Lakes residents are kicking up a stink after failing to find any dog tidy bags along a popular walkway – but council say it’s the owner’s responsibility.

Locals were quick to voice their complaints on a community page Wednesday, where Yaina Mingo said the Gold Coast City Council boxes around Lake Orr were “completely empty.”

Varsity Lakes locals have taken to social media to complain about the lack of dog poo bags. Photo: Shutterstock

“Lots of dog poo around the lake,” the post read.

She told the Bulletin: “There’s been no bags around Varsity Lakes and Lake Orr parks for a few days now.”

Another person said: “I don’t see the problem it’s good for the trees.”

A user responded: “Because people walk in it by accident and then get s**t on their shoes.”

Dog owners face up a $68 fine if they leave their pooches’ leavings behind.

Sunset on Lake Orr, Varsity Lakes. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin

Area Councillor Hermann Vorster was quick to put the onus back on residents, saying: “The city’s cleaning team refills dog bag dispensers regularly and acts promptly if shortages are reported.”

“Unfortunately, on occasion, people will take more than needed, creating a shortage of bags available to other dog owners,” he said.

Cr Hermann Vorster said it was “still the responsibility of the dog owner to carry a supply of bags to pick up and dispose of waste appropriately.” Picture Glenn Hampson

“We remind the community that these dog bags are partly funded by dog registrations and provided as a courtesy to dog owners, and it is still the responsibility of the dog owner to carry a supply of bags to pick up and dispose of waste appropriately.”

He also said it was important dog owners register their dogs to “ensure we have the appropriate amount of facilities to meet demand.”