Public opinion prompts rethink of draft dog rules

GEELONG and Bellarine dog owners will have new rules to follow with their pooches in public after changes to council laws.

The City of Greater Geelong has made changes to dog control orders at 15 parks and reserves across the municipality.

The city’s review aimed to balance needs of community groups while protecting environmental and cultural values.

COGG received 1,382 responses during consultation from 1,002 different contributors.

Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve between Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale had the strongest response during consultation, with 277 submissions.

The city had proposed prohibiting dogs from the coastal reserve in its draft due to risks to native plants and animals.

But the weight of responses led the city to soften its stance and allow dogs on leash all year-round.

Ramblers Road Foreshore at Portarlington was also contentious, with the city planning to ban bogs from the beach from September to March in its draft rules.

The accepted recommendation will mean dogs must be on leash at all times during those months and may be off leash from 5pm to 10am between April and August.

Elsewhere on the Bellarine, dogs will be prohibited from Indented Head Woodland Nature Reserve, while a decision for Yellow Gum Nature Reserve at Ocean Grove has been deferred until the city settles public access concerns.

Equestrian centres at Drysdale, Newcomb and Portarlington would have restrictions downgraded to allow dogs off leash when no horses are present.

In Geelong, the city will tighten rules at Armstrong Creek wetlands Doolibeal, where dogs are prohibited, and Sparrovale, where there will be a combination of on-leash and no-go zones.

An off-leash paddock space would be established at Mount Brandon, Highton, while dogs would be banned on the opposite of the river at Barwon River Sanctuary.

A council report also acknowledged need for greater enforcement of rules and community education alongside the new orders.

Cr Eddy Kontelj said he looked forward to the rules taking effect.

“Personally, from all the people that I see walking our paths, whether it be the waterfront, the Barwon River, the beaches; by and large most owners are very responsible.

“Hopefully this goes some way to allowing those activities to continue to occur.”