Dog parks

You can exercise your dog in an off-leash area but must maintain effective control.

The City of Ballarat has 11 off-leash dog areas:

• Wendouree – CE Brown Reserve Dog Park (Dowling St)
• Wendouree – Pioneer Park (Ring Rd)
• Alfredton – Cuthberts Road Reserve
• Newington – Victoria Park Dog Park (Poplar Ave Newington, off Russell St)
• Soldiers Hill – Gregory St Reserve
• Black Hill – Chisholm St Reserve - Please note that access is temporarily restricted due to construction works throughout 2025
• Buninyong – Birdwood Park Reserve (Innes Lane)
• Sebastopol – MR Power Reserve Dog Park (Grant St)
• Canadian – Canadian Lakes Reserve (Canadian Lakes Bvd)
• Canadian – Pennyweight Park Dog Park (Otway St Sth)
• Buninyong - James Reserve Dog Park (Union Jack Lane)

To maintain effective control of your dog you must:

• carry a chain, cord or leash to bring your dog under control
• remain within voice or hand control and in constant sight of your dog at all times
• not allow your dog to worry or threaten any person or animal

If your dog is off lead in a designated off-leash area, it must be brought under effective control by means of an appropriate lead or control apparatus such as a head and/or body harness, if the dog is within 50 metres of:

• The arena or ground of an organised sporting or practice event
• Children’s play equipment area
• The principal location of an organised public meeting or event
• Permanent barbecue or picnic area

If a dog is off lead in a Designated Off Leash Area it must be brought under effective control by an appropriate lead or control apparatus such as a head and/or body harness if the dog is within 10 metres of any shared path, walking track or waterway.

You need to carry something to pick up after your dog.
Find the location of our dog bag dispensers around Lake Wendouree.

Under the Domestic Animals Act we've developed the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2017-21 which will be renewed every four years.