Exercising your dog

Council recognises the importance of dogs being allowed time to exercise unrestrained and there are seven off-leash areas in the shire. Dogs can exercise, roam freely and socialise under the supervision of their owner or person in charge at the following designated off-leash areas:

1. Bicentennial Gardens, the northern area of the reserve, Ballina
2. Compton Drive, East Ballina (includes agility equipment)
3. Gap Road, Alstonville (includes agility equipment)
4. Seven Mile Beach, north of Lennox Head - Alstonville Surf Life Saving Club
5. Ballina Heights Estate, eastern reserve area, Ballina Heights
6. Headlands Drive Drainage Reserve, Skennars Head
7. The Spit, Ballina

Conditions of Use

• Your dog must always be under effective control and never be left unattended. ‘Effective control’ means your dog responds to your command and remains close to you.
• You must immediately remove your dog from the area if it shows any signs of anti-social or aggressive behaviour.
• Pick up after your dog. Bag the poo, put it in the bin or take it with you.
• Always be considerate of others in the area.
• Ensure your dog does not chase or harm wildlife.

Resources

• Off-Leash Dog Exercise Areas - Ballina Shire Council fact sheet 3 (pdf)
• NSW Office of Local Government website - Dogs and Cats
• Cycleways and Shared Paths Map including Dog Friendly Areas

Dog 'No-Go' Areas

If a person is found to allow their dog in these prohibited areas they may be issued with a fine which may exceed $330. Because of the popularity of some beaches and the presence of migratory and shorebirds, dogs are not allowed on:

• Shelly Beach
• Lighthouse Beach
• Seven Mile Beach, south of identified beach access track located just north of Lennox Head/Alstonville Surf Lifesaving Club
• Flat Rock reef
• The Serpentine
• Sharpes Beach, northern end of Sharpes Beach during surf patrols
• Shaws Bay
• Chickiba Lake, north/eastern corner surrounding the migratory and shorebirds roosting area
• Lake Ainsworth and surrounding foreshore/reserve
• Fire Trail end of Camp Drewe Road, Lennox Head

Additional public areas defined under Section 14 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 NSW where dogs are not permitted:

• In or within 10m of any children's play areas
• Food preparation or consumption areas (unless it is in a public thoroughfare such as a road, footpath or pathway)
• School grounds and child care centres (unless with the permission of the person controlling the school)
• Shopping areas where dogs are prohibited (unless secured in a vehicle, with the permission of the person controlling the place or going to or from a vet or pet shop)
• Wildlife protection areas
• and as indicated on Council signage at sites throughout the Shire.

Council can elect not to permit dogs in particular recreation areas, public bathing areas, and shopping centres.