Our beaches and grassed foreshore areas are places for everyone to access and enjoy, whether you are a dog owner or not. In December 2022, Council endorsed a community engagement plan which outlined the approach on how we will engage with the community to develop options for dog on-leash and off-leash rules in these areas.
Recognising the importance of maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors, the City of PAE implemented a Dogs on Beaches Community Working group and comprehensive public engagement process across 2023. We understand that opinions on this matter are diverse, and it was crucial for us to capture a broad range of perspectives.
Through four workshops with an independent facilitator and a community-wide engagement process seeking feedback on proposed options, the Working Group identified their preferences for rules for dogs on our grassed foreshore reserves and beaches to be presented to Council.
This community engagement process has concluded. The current regulations, which have been in place for over 20 years, have been carefully examined to ensure they align with the evolving needs and expectations of our community.
Throughout the Working Group and public engagement period, we received valuable input from residents with a variety of views on the issue. We appreciate the time and effort contributed by those who participated in the working group and contributed to public engagements, as it reflects the passion our community has for our shared spaces.
After careful consideration and weighing the multitude of opinions, Council has determined that the current rules strike the best balance among the differing views. As a result, there will be no changes to the existing regulations regarding dogs on and off leash at the beach and foreshore.
Visit Participate PAE to read the engagement summary and other resources. Information about on and off-leash hours is available on the Keeping cats and dogs page .