City of PAE Council has rules which declares which reserves and open spaces on-leash and off-leash.

Our Animal Management Plan 2018-2023 has an action to talk to our community about on-leash and off-leash areas. As part of this review we wanted to know what open areas you think should be on-leash, off-leash or dog-prohibited.

In 2022 we asked for your feedback to help determine dog-rules for open public areas. We held 23 pop-up community engagements at 14 locations across PAE, emailed 8672 registered dog owners in PAE and collected your thoughts through an online survey and interactive map.

In August 2022 Council approved rule changes for some reserves and decided to undertake further engagement on rules for dogs on beaches.

In December 2022, Council endorsed a community engagement plan which outlined the approach on how we will engage with the community to find the balance of all the different and various perspectives regarding rules for dogs on beaches.

As part of this engagement plan, the Dogs on Beaches Community Working Group was formed, who have been working with an independent facilitator to consider various options for the leashing laws for the beach and grassed foreshore. The group consists of 30 local people who bring a variety of perspectives that need to be considered when making decisions regarding rules for dogs on beaches and foreshore reserves.

At the Council Meeting on 9 August 2022, Council endorsed the recommended changes to dog by-laws for PAE reserves and beaches.

The endorsed changes stated that from 3 April 2023, the beach would have designated on-leash and off-leash areas at all times. The beach from Bower Road Semaphore South to Everard St Largs Bay was to be on-leash at all times. The beach from Everard St Largs Bay to the northern end of Taperoo was to be off-leash at all times.

On the other side of the marina, North Haven beach, south of Australia II Drive was to be on-leash at all times, and north of Australia II Drive was to be off-leash at all times.

The grassed foreshore was to be on-leash at all times. This matched with the leash rules from the road and footpath, and was suitable as these areas typically have mixed use activities and events.

Following the announcement of the new rules for dogs on beaches, Council received feedback that not all registered dog owners had received an email about the consultation as intended.

Council rescinded aspects of the Council Decision relating to dog leash rules along beaches, subject to further community engagement at a special Council meeting on 30 August 2022. Minutes outlining the decision from the meeting are available in the Key documents on this page.

Council also resolved that

• The entire foreshore is a ‘Dog On-leash Area’ between the hours of 10.00am and 8.00pm, on any day during the period of daylight savings.
• A report be presented to Council in December 2022 outlining a plan for further community engagement, including proposed options, on leashing laws for dogs on the foreshore.