Decision details

By Councillor Gannon

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the City of Sydney dog owning community has rapidly grown since the beginning of the pandemic with many residents getting dogs for companionship;

(ii)        our CBD and immediate surrounds are primarily comprised of high-density apartments, stressing the need for green open space for residents and dogs alike;

(iii)      while the City has 44 dog parks, including the Cook and Phillip Park, many residents have found these parks to be at capacity during peak times, especially residents in the CBD; and

(iv)      that there is a need to expand off-leash open spaces for dogs in the CBD area, specifically around The Domain and Hyde Park; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         investigate options to make parts of Hyde Park an off-leash zone; and

(ii)        write to The Royal Botanical Gardens Trust requesting that an area of The Domain be turned into a timed off-leash dog zone.

Note – at the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion  was varied by Councillor Gannon. Subsequently it was –

Moved by Councillor Gannon, seconded by Councillor Davis –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the City of Sydney dog owning community has rapidly grown since the beginning of the pandemic with many residents getting dogs for companionship;

(ii)        our CBD and immediate surrounds are primarily comprised of high-density apartments, stressing the need for green open space for residents and dogs alike;

(iii)      the City has 50 parks and reserves where dogs are allowed to be off-leash, including the Cook and Phillip Park, Wentworth Park, Prince Alfred Park, Beare Park and Rushcutters Bay Park;

(iv)      residents have asked if we could expand off-leash open spaces for dogs in the CBD area, specifically around The Domain and Hyde Park;

(v)       the Domain is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust;

(vi)      it is not appropriate to allow dogs off-leash in Hyde Park because it is one of Australia’s oldest parks offering 16 hectares of green and shaded open space in the heart of the city, including important sites of national significance and space for reflection, and

(vii)     it is not safe to allow dogs off-leash in Hyde Park because it is surrounded on all sides by some of Sydney’s busiest streets; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to write to The Royal Botanical Gardens and Domain Trust requesting that they consider The Domain becoming an off-leash dog zone.

Carried unanimously.

X086658