Learn more about what's happening now

At the 21 August 2024 Council Meeting, we adopted the Dog Off-Leash Guideline. The Guideline outlines our position on the provision, distribution, design and management of dog facilities in public open spaces.

Following the guideline’s adoption, we undertook community engagement on several proposed changes to dog on and off-leash restrictions across the municipality.

The findings from this consultation and recommended next steps were eventually brought to another Council Meeting on the 20 August 2025. This led to the following changes across the municipality:

  • Fennell Reserve in Port Melbourne was designated as an off-leash area.
  • Port Melbourne Beach (Station Pier to Bay Street) and Elwood Beach (Point Ormond to Elwood Angling Club) mas made off-leash from 7:30 PM to 10:00 AM during summer.
  • The proposed gate hours at Eastern Reserve in South Melbourne became permanent.
  • Pitch 3 at JL Murphy Reserve in Port Melbourne became a dog-prohibited area.

At the same Council Meeting on 20 August 2025, Council also resolved to seek community feedback on other potential dog off-leash areas in Elwood and South Melbourne. These included:

  • Point Ormond Reserve, Elwood
  • The beach north of Point Ormond rock groyne, Elwood
  • Anzac Gardens, South Melbourne

Also, at the Council Meeting on 4 February 2026, Council resolved to seek community feedback on turning Kirrip Park in South Melbourne into a dog off-leash area and to explore fencing the existing dog off-leash area at Clarke Reserve in Elwood.

We invited feedback on planned upgrades to Clarke Reserve’s play space in 2025, which will include a fence around the play space to create a clear separation between the park uses for everyone’s safety. Some participants suggested we add fencing between the dog area and the road. We are now seeking further feedback focussing on fencing for the dog off-leash area.

How do we decide if an area becomes off-leash?

Creating a new dog off‑leash area involves several important steps. Council must consider a range of factors before deciding whether a space is suitable.

  • Community feedback

    We want to understand how people who use or live near the area feel about the proposal.

    This helps us balance the needs of dog owners with those who value the space as it currently is.

  • Alignment to the Dog-Off Leash Guideline:

    Because these locations weren’t included in the original list of preferred sites when the Guideline was adopted, Council staff will need to assess each one against the criteria in the Guideline.

    This helps ensure any future off‑leash area is safe for pets, fits well within the space and maintains the overall public amenity.

  • Changes to the Local Law

    Designating or changing off‑leash areas requires an amendment to the Local Law.

    This involves a formal process including an independent legal review and a separate public consultation.

    The outcome of that process can affect whether a location can ultimately be designated.

  • Budget for changes

    If Council supports changes, particularly where new infrastructure is required, such as at Clarke Reserve then funding would need to be considered through the formal Budget process.

    While the Plan for Port Phillip 2025–35 includes funding for new fenced dog parks, any new project would still need to be formally established before design or construction could begin.

  • Heritage impacts

    Some locations may fall within areas protected by the Victorian Heritage Overlay.

    In these cases, changes to how the space is used or developed must be consistent with heritage requirements, which may limit what can be introduced.

Learn more about previous stages of consultation

Proposed Changes to Dog on and Off Leash Restrictions (March/April 2025)

This consultation ran from 8 March and closed on 11 April 2025.