Community Connect Issue 47

Keep your dog on its Lead

Dogs are allowed on Angels Beach, Sharpes Beach, Flat Rock and the coastal pathway but they must be on a lead.

It’s a good idea to check the signs in public places to see if dogs are allowed in that location as a penalty infringement notice can exceed $330.

Council recognises the importance of exercising your dog and provides seven off-leash areas:

- Bicentennial Gardens, Ballina

- Compton Drive, East Ballina + dog agility equipment

- Gap Road, Alstonville

- Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head north of surf club

- Ballina Heights Estate, Cumbalum eastern reserve

- Headlands Drive, Skennars Head drainage reserve

- The Spit, Ballina

These areas are not for the exclusive use of dogs and their owners. Please be considerate of all other users by bagging your dog poo, then bin it or take it with you. Ensure your dog is always under your effective control, responds to your command and remains close to you. Immediately remove your dog if it shows any sign of anti-social behaviour or aggression.

Dog ‘No-Go' Areas:

- Shelly Beach, East Ballina

- Lighthouse Beach, East Ballina

- The Serpentine, East BallinaShaws Bay, East Ballina

- Chickiba Lake, East Ballina, north/eastern corner surrounding migratory and shorebirds roosting area

- Flat Rock reef, Skennars Head

- Sharpes Beach, Skennars Head, northern end during surf patrols

- Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head (south of beach access track located just north of Surf Club)

- Lake Ainsworth and surrounding foreshore/reserveFire Trail at the end of Camp Drewe Road, Lennox Head

The ‘no-go’ areas are in place because of the popularity of some beaches and the presence of migratory and shorebirds. Don’t risk a penalty infringement notice of $330 by taking your dog to a ‘nogo’ area.

Further information ballina.nsw.gov.au/exercising-your-dog

The three steps to register your pet

1. MICROCHIP

2. DESEX

3. REGISTER

Microchipping and lifetime registration of your cat or dog is a requirement under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998. If your pet is not registered by six months of age, you may be issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) which may exceed $305.