Dog owners have unleashed at a Melbourne council over a controversial rule now in force preventing them from taking their pet near a public playground.
Residents will now be fined if their dogs are within 10m of any public children’s playground in the Frankston local government area, in the city’s south-east.
First introduced in 2022, the rule recently progressed from the education phase to enforcement, where dog owners will cop a $200 fine for breaking the directive.
Additional council patrols will be ramped up to ensure ‘greater compliance’ while the public have been urged to report incidents of ongoing non-compliance.
New signs have also been installed in parks to remind residents of the rules.
Frankston independent councillor Kris Bolam took to social media this week to confirm that fines now apply, sparking a divided reaction from the community.
Many councils have banned dogs from children’s playgrounds (stock image)
Frankston Council has erected new signs reminding dog owners that fines now apply
The dog ban was first introduced in 2022 after a series of harrowing incidents across the seaside LGA.
‘One of these residents had the horrible experience of witnessing her granddaughter being attacked by an off-leash dog,’ Cr Bolam explained.
‘While the little girl thankfully escaped only with a few scratches, the experience had a profound impact on the resident.’
He warned that council officers will increase patrols of areas with ‘recorded non-compliance’ to ensure the rules are being obeyed.
‘These new rules are not about revenue-raising or ‘the nanny state” Mr Bolam wrote.
‘Rather, this is about the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable – children.
‘Of all places, we expect children to be the safest at our public playgrounds.’
Dogs are barred from getting within 10m of Frankston Council playgrounds (one pictured)
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The new rules sparked a divided community reaction.
‘This is a disgrace that families can no longer take their dogs for a walk to the park with their kids. Too many stupid unlawful rules you and other councillors are making,’ one commented.
Another added: ‘This is just another rule for irresponsible owners to ignore whilst punishing families that try to do the right thing.’
A third wrote: ‘I don’t get how this solves the dog problem.
‘Dogs were already not allowed off-leash. This is just another rule for irresponsible owners to ignore whilst punishing families that try to do the right thing.’
But many others welcomed the crackdown.
‘A pet does not trump the right of a child to be happy and have fun with out having to worry about someone’s dog running up to them or s******g in the play area,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘This is great. We were at Overport last weekend and had a near miss with an off leash dog we were walking past in the car park.’
Frankston was also one of the first councils in to ban smoking within 10m of playgrounds.
Dog owners will cop a $200 fine if their pets get too close to a playground in the Frankston LGA (stock image)
Many other councils across have also banned dogs from playgrounds, including North Sydney, Randwick and City of Sydney.
‘We must protect children from parasites and diseases that can be transmitted from dog litter,’ City of Sydney council states on its website.
‘You risk a $330 fine if your dog is in a playground.
‘Your dog is welcome to more than 400 of our parks and open spaces.’
Melbourne’s Port Phillip Council’s dog ban is within 5m of playgrounds.
Playgrounds are also a no-go zone for dogs on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.