Changes made to allow dogs in the city
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Dogs will no longer be banned in the Cairns CBD from 1 July.
Council today removed the prohibition of dogs in the CBD, except for the areas around the Esplanade Lagoon, which remains dog free.
This followed Council’s endorsement in November 2023 of amendments to the Local Laws, which streamlined the process for changing dog off leash areas and animal prohibition areas.
This has allowed Council to better respond to community desires and improve liveability.
During the four-week public consultation period undertaken as part of the Local Law Amendment project, Council received 102 responses regarding dog off leash areas and animal prohibition areas.
Almost half of these (48 comments) were in relation to dogs being prohibited in the CBD, which were predominantly in favour of removing and/or reducing the area where dogs where prohibited.
As a result, dogs will now only be banned at the Lagoon, including the surrounding pathways, which extend along the waterfront to the marina area.
The decision to allow dogs in the CBD will further encourage people to visit, live and participate in activities in the city.