Geelong council’s proposed on-leash dog changes revealed

Geelong council is changing its rules around on and off-leash dog areas. Find out if your local park has been impacted.

Ocean Grove main beach. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

A concerted community push to allow dogs on-leash at Ocean Grove’s Buckley Park Foreshore has been backed by Geelong council.

An initial order to ban dogs at the popular site was amended after strong pushback from residents.

Councillors unanimously supported the change at their meeting on Tuesday night.

Other approved changes include a new off-leash “paddock” along the Barwon River at Mount Brandon, banning dogs at MountDuneed Recreation Reserve and Rees Reserve equestrian centres, and dogs being allowed on-leash at Portarlington’s RamblersRoad Foreshore from September to March.

A decision on dog controls for Yellow Gum Reserve, in Ocean Grove, was deferred until the matter of public access is finalised.

The dog control orders allow the City of Greater Geelong to undertake a range of compliance activities, including educationcampaigns, patrols and enforcement.

Mayor Trent Sullivan said the orders took into account a variety of factors.

“We want to make our shared spaces as safe and enjoyable as possible for all users, and so, we need to be able to strike ahealthy balance between community safety, dog accessibility, wildlife conservation, flora protection, sporting tenant considerationsand management of the asset’s amenities,” he said.

The final round of public consultation on the issue attracted almost 1400 submissions.

Geelong council’s proposed on-leash dog changes revealed

Dogs would be allowed on-leash at a popular Ocean Grove park after community outcry over a proposal to ban canines.

The City of Greater Geelong was set to ban dogs at Buckley Park Foreshore completely amid concerns for native wildlife, but community consultation into dog orders at 15 council parks and recreation reserves revealed strong opposition to the move.

Nearly 70 per cent of respondents viewed the dog ban as unacceptable, while 25 per cent pleaded with four-legged friends to be kept on leads.

“Agree with protection of habitat and breeding areas for wildlife and agree per rationale provided for change,” one person wrote.

Others begged the council to leave the rules as they are.

“Surely other creatures are getting to these birds and it’s not the dogs given they aren’t allowed off leash during the birds breeding season,” another person submitted.

Council officers have altered the proposed changes and councillors will vote on the recommendation to adopt these at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Under the new rules, dogs would be banned from the Barwon River Sanctuary and the Rees Reserve Equestrian Centre, while a new off leash “paddock” space would be created along the Barwon River at Mount Brandon.

Plans to ban dogs from the Barwon River Sanctuary – currently an on-leash area – attracted mixed reactions.

“Commentary was mixed on this environmentally and culturally significant area, with some responses indicating that dogs need to be removed from the area altogether to ensure the area is protected,” the report read.

“Some stated that they regularly see dog owners be irresponsible in this area and let their dogs off-leash despite the current on-lead orders.”

The council also eased seasonal restrictions at the Ramblers Rd Foreshore in Portarlington, where locals felt “strongly” about proposed changes.

Under the recommended rules, dogs would be allowed on leads at all times on the beach from September to March, and off leash between April and August between 5pm-10am.

“Significant community feedback suggesting prohibiting dogs is not necessary, whilst recognising protection of recently arrived beach nesting birds is important,” it read.

“Feedback regarding fencing of nest areas will be implemented.”

Originally published as Geelong council’s proposed on-leash dog changes revealed