Dogs are now required to be on-leash in the Lewiston trails
The trails comprise about 7 km of vegetation reserves that are linked by shared walking tracks and are connected to a playground and off-leash dog park. Council adopted the requirement for dogs to be on-leash in this area at the 24 February meeting.
The decision for dogs to be on-leash in the trails was made following safety concerns received about potential conflicts between dogs and horses and their riders, and inconsistent signage. Council consulted on a proposal to designate the trails as a dog on-leash area in October and November 2024.
Council received 43 submissions during consultation and found:
- majority support (68%) for the trails to be designated a dog on-leash area, predominately for community safety reasons
- some indication that there are no significant issues and that some people did not support the proposal
- some requests to have designated times or locations for dogs on or off-leash.
Most of the feedback received was from people with dogs or horses.
All people walking dogs on the trails must make sure their dogs are on a leash that is no longer than 2 metres. A common sense approach to compliance and issuing of fines will be taken under the Dogs By-law 2019.
Council is now at work updating signage, the website, and the Dog & Cat Management Plan.
Mark Wasley
Mayor
28 April 2025
Published 28 April 2025