Off-leash dog areas open as trial gets underway

TWO new off-leash dog areas have officially opened in the Borough of Queenscliffe, marking the start of a 12-month trial across the municipality.

The trial sites are located at the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve and the reserve north of King Street near the Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club.

Bins and dog waste dispensers have been installed at each location to support responsible use.

The off-leash areas will be assessed over the next year based on community usage, impacts on traffic and wildlife, and safety, with a permanent outcome to be determined at the conclusion of the trial.

The new sites aim to complement the borough’s existing off-leash dog beach at the Narrows, which remains available for use.

The trial follows a borough-run community survey in September last year, which found 96 per cent of respondents supported the establishment of a new off-leash dog area.

Feedback was sought on three potential locations, with the Lighthouse Reserve receiving the highest level of support, at 47 per cent, followed by the yacht club reserve, at 33 per cent.

Royal Park Oval in Point Lonsdale was also considered but ruled out as a trial location, despite a petition signed by more than 500 people, in favour of locations less used by sporting groups.

“After considering several off-leash open spaces for dogs in the borough including Royal Park Oval, council’s preference is to keep Royal Park Oval as a sporting and recreational oval that continues to allow dogs on leash,” the borough spokesperson said in December.

Royal Park Oval remains an on-leash area, like all public areas in the borough.