Q. What permanent locations do we currently have as Dog Off Leash Areas?
The Blue Mountains Local Government Area (LGA) currently has Dog Off Leash areas established in,
• The old air strip on Hat Hill road, Blackheath
• Whitley Park, Blackheath
• Frank Walford Park, Katoomba
• Bulls Camp, Woodford
• Summerhayes Park, Winmalee
• Lennox Bridge, Glenbrook
Q. Where are our Trial Dog Off-Leash Areas?
• Bureau Park, Barton Street Nth Katoomba
• Katoomba Falls Reserve, Sth Katoomba
• Leura Oval, Leura. (Nb. The Off-Leash area on the track beside Leura Oval is closed for the trial period)
• Pitt Park, Wentworth Falls
• Ex Lawson Golf Course
• Tom Hunter Park, Faulconbridge
• Sun Valley Reserve
• Lapstone Oval
Q. Why do we need more Dog-Off Leash areas?
Council currently has 6 dog off leash areas spread across the extent of the Mountains. There are travel distances of up to 20km for residents to reach some of these areas. Many of these off-leash areas are considered to be in hard to reach areas away from township centres such as the Air Strip, Blackheath, Bulls Camp, Woodford and Lennox Bridge, Glenbrook. Criticism has also been received by Council regarding off-leash activities at Catalina Park due to the Aboriginal significance of the area, whilst Leura’s previous off-leash area was considered inappropriate in size.
The need for additional off-leash areas across the Blue Mountains has been the subject of increasing correspondence and a number of petitions over the last three years. The demand for dog friendly open spaces is becoming more important and the high rates of dog ownership supports the need for the establishment of additional dog off-leash areas more centrally located to towns and villages.
Q. What facilities does a Dog Off-Leash area have?
No facilities are necessarily required by law however Council is endeavoring to ensure these sites will have a dog waste disposal bin, bubbler, signage and fencing if adjacent to a main road. Fully fenced Off-Leash and ‘doggy poo bags’ will not be a standard provision.
Q. What does the law say about dogs?
One of the more important pieces of legislation that applies to dogs is the Companion Animals Act 1998. Information on the Companion Animals Act can be accessed from the Department of Local Government website at www.dlg.nsw.gov.au click here to go to that site .
A summary of the responsibilities for dog owners under the Act is listed as follows:
• If your dog is in a public place it must be under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash;
• If your dog is being exercised in an approved off-leash area it must always be under effective control of a competent person. This means not being dependant on a fence to control the dog.
• You are not permitted to walk more than four dogs at any one time in an on-leash area or an off-leash area;
• If your dog defecates in a public place it is an offence not to remove the faeces;
• Dogs are prohibited from 10m of children’s play areas & food preparation/consumption areas, and also prohibited from recreation areas, public bathing areas, school grounds and child care centres.
The Companion Animals Act also acknowledges the need and benefits of allowing dogs the opportunity to exercise and socialize without a lead. Under this Act each Local Government Area must provide at least one area available for Off-Leash use. The creation of dog off-leash areas is permitted under Section 13 (6) of the Companion Animals Act 1998 which states:
“A local authority can by order declare a public place to be an off-leash area. Such a declaration can be limited so as to apply during a particular period or periods of the day or to different periods of different days.”
Along with the Companion Animals Act, Blue Mountains City Council has a Companion Animals Management Plan click here to go to that site , which details appropriate management of companion animals in the Blue Mountains area. This is available on Council’s website (or click on link above).