If a Council public area or parkland is not indicated in the below lists or does not have dog zone signs in place, then dogs must ALWAYS be on leash and under effective control as per Council's Local Laws.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times when being walked in public, it is an offence for a dog to be in public and not be on a leash. This is as per the Subordinate Local Law No.2 (Animal Management) 2011 which outlines the only places in the Gladstone Region where dogs are allowed to be off leash within the Region.
Owners must remember though that when their dog is not on a leash and is in an approved 'dog off leash' area then the following rules apply:
Dog is under your control (for example, your dog will return to you when called)
Dog is not a nuisance to other dogs and their owners
Dog's droppings are disposed of in the bins provided
Dog is registered with Council, wormed regularly, and its vaccinations are up to date.
There are several locations across the Gladstone Region that cater specifically for dog owners wishing to exercise or walk their dogs off-leash. Dogs are permitted off-leash in the following parks throughout the region:
Webb Park, Palm Drive, Gladstone (a dedicated fenced off-leash dog exercise park)
Note: Small dogs and puppies area closed due to dangerous ground conditions. More information.
William Miskin Park, 13 Morgan St, Gladstone
Bunting Park, Bloomfield Street, Calliope (a dedicated fenced off-leash dog exercise park)
Cashin Park, found on The Oaks Road, Tannum Sands.
Canoe Point Foreshore, situated on Canoe Point Rd, Tannum Sands. This area stretches from the Boyne River mouth to the beach aligned with Oaks Road, Tannum Sands.
Sandpiper Park, located on Parkside St, Tannum Sands.
Agnes Water Beach: North of the Atlantis Boulevard beach access and south of the southern boundary of Lot 508 on Plan NPW556 (Joseph Banks Conservation Park).
Beach area adjacent to the township of Bangalee on Wild Cattle Island, Tannum Sands.
Chinaman's Beach, Agnes Water: This area permits off-leash dogs from April to October each year, outside of turtle nesting season.
Boyne River Foreshore: Dogs can be off-leash from Wyndham Park Carpark to Lilleys Beach.
The Bororen Agility Area in Memorial Park.
Please remember that while enjoying these off-leash areas, you must always keep your dogs under effective control.
Dogs on-leash zones
Council recently adopted changes to Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011. Dogs are now allowed on-leash only in the following locations:
All public parks and spaces, such as footpaths, that are not designated as off-leash or prohibited areas, are on-leash areas for your dogs.
Dogs prohibited zones
The Gladstone region has multiple dog-free areas where dogs are prohibited. Non-compliant dog owners may receive on-the-spot fines. Dogs are prohibited in the following locations:
Barney Point Beach (bathing reserve), Gladstone
Anzac Park, 44 Tank Street, Gladstone
Tondoon Botanic Gardens, Gladstone
Tannum Sands Main Beach bathing reserve and foreshore up to the area adjacent to the parcel of land described as Lot 41 on Plan CTN1860, The Oaks Road, Tannum Sands
Millennium Esplanade, The Esplanade, Tannum Sands, including footpaths within the Esplanade
Springs Beach to Northern Boundary of Deepwater National Park, Agnes Water
Chinaman's Beach, Agnes Water - November to March each year (during turtle nesting season)
Agnes Water Main Beach (bathing reserve, known as the area south of Tom Jeffrey Park beach entry)
Wild Cattle Island Beach Tannum Sands seaward side adjacent to the National Park north of the Township of Bangalee (excludes beach area adjacent to the Township of Bangalee).
Additionally, dog-free zones encompass all parks and reserves within 10 meters of the following in a local government-controlled area:
Any playground apparatus provided for the use of minors
A designated playground area
A barbecue or other cooking facility.
These restrictions apply to equipment the local government provides for public physical exercise.
Note before lodging a complaint
Residents wishing to lodge a complaint about potential breaches to the local law due to dogs being present in prohibited public spaces are encouraged to provide time and date stamped photographs in support of their claim. However, Council can only use the photographs for planning dog compliance patrols; photographs cannot be used to issue fines to individuals.
If the “Public Space” (any land that is open to the Public) is not stated within the local law as either on/off leash or prohibited it is an “on-leash area”.
