Poo bags and leashing up: How will Knox manage pet nuisance into the future?

Complaints about poo bags being thrown into kerbsides as well as damage to sporting ovals are among the issues being targeted in Knox Council’s updated animal management plan, set to be finalised later this year and rolled out next year.

🗣️ Have your say: At the Monday September 8 council meeting, Knox council passed a motion to send the draft 2026-2029 Domestic Animal Management Plan out for a final round of consultation.

Consultation on the draft plan will run for four weeks from Monday September 15.

🧑‍🏫 Better education needed: The draft plan outlines a range of actions, including a review of the potential need for dog waste bag dispensers and educating dog owners about how to dispose of their dog’s waste, either via general rubbish bins or in their home’s compost bins.

💩 Rethinking bag options: In 2009, Knox Council rolled out a trial of eight dog poo bag dispensers at parks and reserves across the region, but all of them were later removed due to ongoing vandalism.

💵 Dumpers pay up: Dog owners can receive a $100 on-the-spot fine if they are seen not carrying waste bags or not picking up their pet’s waste.

🦮 Off-leash areas under review: Since April 2006, dogs in Knox have been allowed off-leash but “under effective control” in all open spaces and reserves within Knox, except for nine conservation bushland reserves.

However, the draft plan proposes a review of these orders to ensure it remains relevant and up to date.

👟 Open space harmony: Knox Council deputy mayor Glen Atwell said while the proposal to make areas which have been off-leash for close to 20 years as on-leash would be “polarising”, it was a necessary step to ensure all members of the community were satisfied moving forward.