1 July 2015

Circular Head General Manager Tony Smart thanked the Circular Head community for their help in establishing four off lead dog exercise areas in the municipal area.

Council has established designated areas at Fossey Street, Smithon, Tatlows Beach, Anthony Beach (Seven Mile Beach) and Godfreys Beach, Stanley.

“More than 80 people provided feedback to Council on the proposed areas and it is pleasing to now be at the point where we can provide designated spaces for people to exercise their dog off lead” Mr Smart said.

“I now encourage dog owners using the areas to continue to take the lead and be responsible by supervising and cleaning up after their dog.”

Council is trialling dog bag stations at Rotaract Park on the corner of Nelson and Kay streets, Fossey Street (end of the river walkway), Tatlows Beach and Godfreys Beach with bags to clean up any faeces left by their dog.

“These stations will help to ensure that people do clean up after their pet, but at the end of the day it is up to the owner to consider other users of these public spaces when out and about,” Mr Smart said.

“It is important to remember to take bags if exercising your dog at Seven Mile Beach as bag stations are difficult to maintain at these sites.”

Mr Smart said to reduce potential issues between users of the off lead exercise areas at beaches these are restricted to parts of the beach, with time and seasonal limits also applying at Godfreys Beach.  Signage is in place with these details.

Mr Smart reminded residents that Council offers a 50% discount for dog registrations before 31 July 2015. Dog registration is not only a requirement by law, it also helps identify your dog if it found by Council’s Animal Control Officer.

Details of the adopted off lead areas and a copy of the Animal Control Policy are available at Council or via www.circularhead.tas.gov.au/dogexercise