Pets in MacMasters Beach

Owning a pet is highly rewarding, but as responsible pet owners, we have an obligation to ensure our pets do not;
  • cause distress to other people and/or their pets
  • affect the natural environment and its inhabitants
According to Central Coast Council's brochure "Pets and protecting wildlife", the impacts of pets on native wildlife are:
  • The sight, smell and sound of a dog or cat can cause birds and animals distress.
  • Dogs and cats can kill or harm wildlife.
  • Breeding of native animals can be disrupted affecting the already reducing populations.
  • Dogs and cats can disturb bush regeneration projects and areas of ecological significance.
  • Dog and cat poo that washes into waterways can harm fish, frogs and other aquatic animals.

Click on the link below to read Council's information about the responsibilties of pet ownership and about our local wildlife rescue volunteers, Bouddi Wildlife.
Dogs
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MacMasters Beach is a dog-friendly locality and dogs are very welcome!

However, for the comfort and safety of other residents and visitors and their pets, please respect the laws regarding dogs.
  • Please pick up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste – keep it off the beaches, parks, pathways, bush and out of the waterways. When you bag your dog’s poo, please put the bag in a bin.  Please don’t throw it into the bush or the dunes.  This is also the law.
  • Let your dog off the leash ONLY in the council approved dogs off leash areas.
  • Keep your dog out of No Dogs areas, such as the ocean pool, around the lagoon, south of the viewing platform to the ocean pool and the dunes.

  • There are important environmental reasons for these limitations; to protect our local native wildlife - the birds, reptiles and mammals that make MacMasters Beach their home.
The Companion Animals Act
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, dog owners have a number of responsibilities when taking their dog(s) into a public place:
  1. Dogs must be under effective control by means of a chain, cord or leash that is being held by (or secured to) the person unless in a designated off leash exercise area; and
  2. Dogs are prohibited in the following places (whether they are leashed or otherwise controlled):
    a. Within 10 metres of any playing apparatus provided in a public place or part for the use of children;
    b. In a public place that that is used for public bathing or public recreation, in which council has ordered dogs prohibited, eg. between the flags at the beach;
    c. Within a public place provided or set aside by council for public recreation or the playing of organised games in which council has ordered dogs prohibited;
    d. A public place set apart by council for the protection of wildlife and in which the council has ordered that dogs are prohibited, eg. COSS lands.
This does not apply to a police dog, a corrective services dog or a dog that is an assistance animal being used bona fide by a person with a disability.

Here's a link to the Act, if you want to check the full details.
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