Park’s out of bounds for off-leash dogs

For the past three months, council’s Local Laws Officers have been gently reminding people that Noosaville’s Chaplin Park is not a dog off-leash area and that they need to keep their pet on a lead.
If let your dog off-leash at Chaplin Park from 7 March, you can expect a formal caution, do it again and council will issue you with a $243 fine. That’s the message from council’s Local Laws co-ordinator Phil Amson.
“We have decided on this course of action following numerous complaints about dog attacks and dogs being aggressive toward other park users, as well as reports about people being knocked over by dogs”
“Chaplin Park has never been an off-leash area,” Mr Amson says.
“In recent months, we’ve spent a lot of time reminding Chaplin Park users of this. As of 7 March, the amnesty on dog owners using this park as an off-leash area ends and officers will start issuing formal cautions and fines.”
Mr Amson said despite council officers’ best efforts to educate dog owners about the rules, dog attacks and other complaints about dogs in Chaplin Park had spiked.
“Chaplin Park is used for events, it’s used by sports groups such as outriggers, personal trainers and other community groups. Adding off-leash dogs to this mix is not safe – a point highlighted by the number of complaints we’re receiving.
“From 7 March, dog owners flouting the rules should expect a formal caution or a fine.”
Mr Amson said council provided off-leash areas nearby for residents to exercise their dogs.
“In addition, more than 30 per cent of Noosa’s coastal beaches, from Doggy Beach to Pitta Street at Peregian Beach, are set aside as off-leash beaches,” he said.
“This is a generous amount of space where dogs can play off lead, provided they are under their owner’s effective control.”
Mr Amson said council did not take enforcement lightly, but Chaplin Park users had been given plenty of warnings and advice about the rules.
For a full list of off-leash dog areas, visit council website at www.noosa.qld.gov.au/dog-ownership