A DOG ban is now being enforced around Frankston’s playgrounds. The ban was first introduced during council’s budget process in 2022. Signs have now been erected and council officers have been directed to enforce the rule and issue fines for non-compliance. The new signs installed at Frankston Council’s playgrounds state that dogs are banned from being within 10 metres. Fines of up to $200 apply – Frankston Council has confirmed that no fines have been handed as of 12 April.
Frankston councillor Kris Bolam said that an incident where a dog attacked a child at a local playground showed why the ban was needed, and that the change was “representing the concerns of a number of passionate residents.” “Anecdotally, one of these residents had the horrible experience of witnessing her grand-daughter being attacked by an off-leash dog. While the little girl thankfully escaped only with a few scratches, the experience had a profound impact on the resident,” he said. “By-laws staff have now transitioned from the education phase to the enforcement phase relating to these new rules. If you are seeing ongoing non-compliance regarding these new rules, please contact council. In turn, by-laws officers will increase patrols of areas with recorded non-compliance to ensure greater compliance.”
In addition to showing that dogs are banned from playgrounds, the new signs also state that smoking within 10 metres of a playground is banned. The Times understands that Frankston Council is considering amending the signs to allow dogs to be walked on-lead around playgrounds. The signage may also be amended to emphasise that vaping is also banned near playgrounds. “These new rules are not about revenue-raising or ‘the nanny state’. Rather, this is about the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable – children. Of all places, we expect children to be the safest at our public playgrounds,” Bolam said
The dog ban stirred up plenty of commentary on social media. Some comments left on Facebook accused council of going too far. “What a stupid blanket rule to ban all dogs. Dogs off leash would have been a more measured rule. But now you have impacted anyone with a dog who goes to a park with kids,” one commenter said. Another said “this is a disgrace that families can no longer take their dogs for a walk to the park with their kids.” Not all comments left were negative. One Facebook user said the change is “great”. “We were at Overport [Park] last weekend and had a near miss with an off-leash dog we were walking past in the car park. Hopefully owners follow the signs,” the comment read.
In January 2022, a dog ban in Frankston’s CDB was lifted (“Every dog has its day in city centre” The Times 22/11/21).