Council and community roll out dog waste bag dispensers across City

Blue Mountains City Council is working with the community to install dog waste dispenser bags in dog off-leash areas, sportsgrounds and parks, one of the key actions and recommendations of the Dogs in Public Spaces Strategic Plan (DIPS).

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said: “The installation of the dog waste dispensers is one of the  priority actions and recommendations in the DIPS adopted in December 2017.”

So far, 9 of the 14 designated dog off-leash areas have at least two dispensers installed as part of Council’s ‘adopt a dog waste bag dispenser’ program.

Each of the dog off-leash areas or parks have a local resident who ‘adopts’ the dispensers. The resident is typically a regular user of that park. The role of that resident is to ensure the dispensers are stocked with bags and to report any damage or issues with the dispensers to Council.

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said: “The success of this program is due to the community partnering with Council to deliver dog waste bags in off-leash areas, sportsgrounds and local parks.”

“I would like to thank those residents who are participating in the program in the interest of the broader community.”

The dispensers help to improve dog owner education - each of the dispensers has information related to cleaning up dog waste – and to improve playing surfaces for sports fields.

Council is looking for more residents and sports clubs to adopt a dog waste bag dispenser so that more dispensers can be rolled out to parks, sportsgrounds and dog off-leash areas across the City.

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said: “The Dogs in Public Spaces Strategic Plan provides a balanced approach to how dogs and their owners use public spaces. 

It also guides the Council priorities as we continue to improve facilities at dog off leash areas across the Mountains.”

The dog waste dispensers have been funded by the NSW EPA to improve local waste and recycling initiatives. 

If you would like to see a dispenser installed in your local park, and you are interested in ‘adopting a dispenser’ please contact Councils Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Officer  for more information on 4780 5000 or via email [email protected]. 

Get more information on Dog off-leash areas