New dog off leash area at Gordon Street declared by Council

Ararat Rural City Council has declared a new off-leash dog area at the Gordon Street Reserve in Ararat, and will now provide pet waste disposal bags and drinking facilities at other off-leash areas.

The Council made the decision at its meeting on Tuesday 16 July, with the Gordon Street Reserve adding to eight other areas that are already designated off-leash areas. The new off-leash area incorporates the fenced area at the reserve but not the oval.

CEO Dr Tim Harrison said where practical, the Council will also provide pet drinking facilities and waste collection bag dispensers at some dog off-leash areas, which will help residents comply with local laws that require them to clean up after their dogs.

"The Council received a number of requests from the community to establish an off-leash area at the Gordon Street Reserve, and we were happy to add the fenced area to our list,” Dr Harrison said.

“We know how important it is to ensure dogs get a healthy amount of exercise, and now there are nine areas where dogs can romp, run and chase balls to their heart’s content. We are sure this will make the dogs – and their owners – very happy.”

Under the Council’s Local Law, dog owners can be fined $200 for not cleaning up after their pets. The Local Law also states that dogs cannot be off leash in built-up areas unless it is in an area designated and signposted for the purpose.

Dr Harrison said that in the designated areas, the Local Law states that dogs are allowed to be off leash as long as the animal remains under the effective control of its owner or the person in charge of the dog.

The nine off-leash dog areas in Ararat, which are all signed, are:

Image above: a map of the off-leash dog areas within Ararat.