Lake Macquarie City Council rangers will start issuing warnings and fines from Wednesday 3 January to dog owners failing to take heed of new access rules at Redhead Beach.
“Over the past six weeks, our rangers have been down at Redhead Beach regularly, providing information to dog owners and easing them into what has changed,” Manager Environmental Regulation and Compliance Derek Poulton said.
“We’re really pleased with how the vast majority of dog owners has listened to us, and we’ve had some great feedback from beachgoers who are enjoying the extended dog-free area from First Creek to Second Creek.”
Under the new rules, the stretch of sand from First Creek to Second Creek previously open to dogs on-lead is now off-limits for all pooches.
The area south of Second Creek remains leash-free.
Mr Poulton said that prior to the rules being introduced, many people weren’t keeping their dogs on-lead around First Creek.
Beachgoers and lifeguards reported regular instances of dogs wandering into the patrolled area and defecating or urinating near families playing in the sand.
“The move aims to increase enjoyment for all beach users, providing clearer guidelines for where dogs can and can’t go, and making First Creek more family-friendly,” Mr Poulton said.
Signs have been installed at Redhead Beach, Webb Park and other access areas letting owners know about the new rules and where they apply.
From Wednesday, owners flouting the rules could face fines for either failing to keep their dog under effective control, or for being in charge of a dog in a prohibited area.
“Both of those offences attract a fine of $330, and it’s possible to get two fines for one incident, for instance if someone was to be inside the dog-free zone with a dog off-lead,” Mr Poulton said.
“But this is not a revenue-raising venture. It’s about making Redhead Beach better for everyone, and we’re urging dog owners to pay attention to the new rules and avoid any financial penalty.”
