Frankston Council introduce $200 fines for dogs caught within 10m of a playground
Frankston Council is in the doghouse over a “stupid” rule that has pet owners hot under the collar.
South East
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Dog owners have unleashed on their local council after it announced it would start fining them $200 for getting too close to playgrounds in Melbourne’s southeast.
Frankston Council is now enforcing a new rule banning dogs from being within 10m of a playground.
The move has angered dog owners who say the council has “too many stupid rules”.
“This is a disgrace that families can no longer take their dogs for a walk to the park with their kids,” Melissa Monsbourgh said.
Others said if the council wanted to stop people from taking dogs into playgrounds they would have to create new walking paths away from play spaces and remove dog poo bins from playgrounds.
“I agree dogs shouldn’t be off lead near playgrounds but it’s really stopping families who do the right thing from going out for walks with our dogs and want to stop at the local playground with our kids,” Belinda Smith said.
“I don’t understand why the rule just can’t be no dogs off leash instead of no dogs at all?”
Cecilia Webster said older people and those with medical conditions often walked near playgrounds so they could stop and rest at benches within.
The restriction was introduced after complaints from residents about the dangers of allowing dogs off-leash around children, including one woman who watched on in horror as an off leash dog attacked her granddaughter.
Councillor Kris Bolam, who campaigned for the new rule, said while the little girl thankfully escaped “with only a few scratches, the experience had a profound impact on the resident”.
The restriction was approved by the council in 2022 but no fines have yet been issued.
Mr Bolam on Monday posted on social about the initiative and explained that by-laws staff had now “transitioned from the education phase to the enforcement phase”.
He urged locals to dob in those breaking the rules and said officers would respond to reports with extra patrols.
Mr Bolam stressed the new rules were not about “revenue-raising or ‘the nanny state’”.
“Rather, this is about the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable – children,” he said.
“Of all places, we expect children to be the safest at our public playgrounds.”
Some residents welcomed the crack down.
“Dogs should be nowhere near playgrounds,” Iain Pullum said.
“A pet does not trump the right of a child to be happy and have fun with out having to worry about someone’s dog running up to them or sh****ing in the play area.”
“This is great,” Shannon Ammeraal said.
“We were at Overport last weekend and had a near miss with an off leash dog we were walking past in the car park.
“Hopefully owners follow the signs.”
