Off-leash areas for dogs FAQ

There will be new off-leash sites at:

• Larpent Reserve, Glen Waverley
• Highview Park, Glen Waverley
• Jordan Reserve, Chadstone
• Mayfield Park, Mount Waverley
• Brandon Park Reserve, Glen Waverley
• Jells Road Reserve, Wheelers Hill
• Wellington Reserve, Mulgrave
• Whitehaven Crescent Reserve, Mulgrave
• Fregon Reserve, Clayton
• Davies Reserve, Oakleigh South
• Bowman Street Reserve, Mount Waverley
• Finch Street Reserve, Notting Hill
• F E Hunt Reserve, Oakleigh East
• Powerlines area, Legana Street to Toombah Street, Mount Waverley
  
  

Expanded off-leash areas at:

• Ashwood/Jingella Reserve: to include part of Jingella Reserve. A-grade rugby pitch at Holmesglen Reserve – no dogs; Synthetic pitch – no dogs; Shared Trail – on-lead
• Mount Waverley Linear Reserve inclusive of Heany Street and Beverley Grove: expanded OLA (off-leash area) to include Mount Waverley Linear Reserve North (Beverley Grove Reserve)
• Pamela-Smyth Street Electricity Easement, Mount Waverley (including 50-56 Smyth Street): expanded OLA to area east of Smyth Street
• Bristol Avenue to Ivanhoe Street Electricity Easement: expanded OLA to area east of Janice Road
  
  

Reduction/removal of off-leash areas at:

• Gardiners Reserve, Burwood (part): reduced OLA. A-grade NPL pitch – no dogs; Synthetic pitch – no dogs; Shared Trail (Gardiners Creek Trail)– on-lead
• Mulgrave Reserve West, Wheelers Hill: reduced OLA. Mulgrave Wetlands – no dogs; Major Shared Trail (Dandenong Creek Trail) – on-lead within 10m either side; Main turf wicket oval – no dogs
• Caloola Reserve, Oakleigh: reduced OLA. Minor change but still predominately OLA; Major Shared Trail (Scotchmans Creek Trail) – dogs on-lead 10m either side
• Damper Creek Conservation Reserve, Mount Waverley: remove OLA status, but retain two parcels of the reserve as off-leash areas.
  
  

There will be no change to off-leash areas at Jack Edwards Reserve.

Signage will be in place at affected areas ahead of the changes so people know they are occurring.

Reminders will be sent out with animal registration renewal notices and will also feature in upcoming editions of the Monash Bulletin and on social media.

Community laws officers regularly visit parks and reserves to speak with residents about their dogs and responsible ownership and will continue to do so when these changes take place.

The issue has also been covered by numerous media outlets, including The Age, Herald Sun, Channel 7, 3AW and ABC Radio.

Council’s Off-Leash Policy was endorsed in November 2022 following three months of consultation (9 July-30 September).

We had 80 submissions via email and 693 contributions to our online survey via Shape Monash, including 61 submissions.

We directly emailed sports clubs and Friends groups and encouraged them to complete the online survey and/or make a submission.

There was ongoing promotion of the online survey on Council’s website and via social media.

People could subscribe to receive project updates via Shape Monash.

Articles were published in the Monash Bulletin, which is distributed to all households in Monash, in July and August 2022. These were also translated into Simple Chinese, Greek and Italian.

Signage was erected at the main entry points to all impacted reserves.

Fliers were distributed to all residents within 200m of potentially impacted sites.

Direct emails were sent to members of Council networks and community groups.

There was direct communication and/or presentation to Monash’s advisory groups.

Of the 693 people who participated in our online survey, 175 participants provided their response to the proposed change to Damper Creek Conservation Reserve. 

A petition of 550 signatures regarding Damper Creek had approximately 50 signatures from Monash residents, the remainder were residents living outside the area.

Council was careful and thorough in considering all views, feedback and advice before deciding that Damper Creek, like other conservation reserves within the municipality such as Valley Reserve, warrants an approach which maximises protection of the flora and fauna within it.

We adjusted what we proposed for this area after receiving the feedback, retaining two pockets for off-leash activity.

Melbourne-based company Practical Ecology was commissioned by Monash Council to assess the impacts that domestic animals and invasive pest animals have on the native flora and fauna throughout Monash’s bushlands reserves, with particular focus on Damper Creek Conservation Reserve.

The Practical Ecology report recommended that the area be designated as a dog on-leash area. The report found that as dogs currently have unrestricted access to all areas within Damper Creek Conservation Reserve when ‘off leash’ it is likely that they have had a negative impact within the conservation reserve, in particular within the remnant and revegetation areas.

Council has measures in place to protect wildlife and limit the impact on the environment.

A night-time cat curfew was introduced in April 2021 following extensive community consultation, to help reduce nuisance caused by cats.

Council engages a professional pest control company to undertake fox control in selected bushland reserves, including Damper Creek, twice yearly. This is based on a 14-day trapping cycle.

Please note, if foxes are reported on private property, it is up to the owner of the property to arrange appropriate fox control measures.

Domestic animals can be disruptive to native ecosystems if unrestricted and can cause damage to flora and fauna. 

The remnant vegetation within the Damper Creek Conservation Reserve has been assessed as having high-quality biodiversity values based on the mature revegetation and floral diversity present and should be protected wherever possible.

Dogs can still walk on-lead in the reserve.

Damper Creek Conservation Reserve is an important ecological corridor and refuge for native fauna in an otherwise heavily urbanised area. Preserving areas such as this is critical. Council wants to minimise the potential impacts domestic animals have on the native flora and fauna in this reserve.

Like other inner-suburban councils, Monash is experiencing population growth and pressure on our public open spaces. With a continued increase in the number of registered dogs in Monash, planning and managing off-leash areas for people to walk and exercise their dogs is critical.

We have had to balance the needs of dog owners but also consider the important native eco-system in this area.

While we know our decision won’t please everyone, we believe it provides the correct balance between the protection of Council’s limited and valuable conservation reserves and the needs of dog owners.

As well as the off-leash space in Damper Creek Conservation Reserve, there is an existing dog off-leash area nearby at Federal Reserve (approximately 300m from Damper Creek) and a new off-leash area to be provided at Bowman Street Reserve, also nearby (approximately 400m). 

Dog owners must comply with Council’s Dog Control Order (2015) that requires owners to:

• Carry a short leash for restraining their dog
• Carry a bag or receptacle for dog faeces, and must pick up after their dog
• Have effective voice or hand control over their dog
• Be able to bring their dog under control promptly
• Remain in constant sight of their dog and not allow their dog to worry, threaten or attack another dog or person.
• Regardless of whether dogs are off-lead in an unfenced or fenced off-leash area, if a dog is off-leash, it must be brought under effective control by means of a chain, cord or leash (not exceeding 1.5m in length) if the dog is within 20m of:
  1. an arena or ground while being used for an organised sporting or practice event
  2. a children’s play equipment area that is being used
  3. the location of an organised public meeting
  4. a barbeque or picnic area that is being used.

If you refuse to keep your dog on a lead, you may be fined.

The fine amount is $185, but a court may impose a fine of up to $370 for a first offence and up to $740 for a second.

Council intends to take an educative approach during the initial stages of implementation. Following this, a person may be issued with a fine.

All dogs in Monash aged over three months must be microchipped and registered. The animal registration period runs from 10 April to 9 April each year. Registrations must be renewed annually by 10 April. If you do not register a pet, you may be subject to a fine.

For details, please see Animal Registration

Microchipping is mandatory and satisfactory proof (a certificate signed and dated by a registered vet or by a licensed agent certified to undertake microchipping) is required. The National Pet Register is Australia's largest non-profit pet identification service and is run by The Lost Dogs' Home. The National Pet Register reunites more than 23,000 lost pets with their owners every year. Make sure your pet is microchipped by a National Pet Register agent.

Dogs must also be desexed. Desexed animals are less likely to wander, spray to mark territory, and be aggressive. Pets from eight weeks of age can be desexed by a vet, and most fully recover within 24 hours.

For information about dog off-leash areas in Monash, see Off-leash areas for dogs.