Moyne Shire: Dogs could be banned from holiday hotspot

A Victorian council is considering banning dogs, scooters and skateboards around the CBD of the tourist haven in the coming summer months. 

The Moyne local government area, west of Melbourne, is home to Port Fairy, a popular family friendly tourist destination. 

If passed, the local rules will ban dogs and toy vehicles from parts of the main roads between 9am-6pm from Christmas Eve until Easter Monday each year.

The small town is divided over the issue, with council bombarded with submissions including a 1500-strong petition in opposition.

Port Fairy (pictured), located on the Victorian coast west of Melbourne, is a popular family-friendly tourist destination with many visitors bringing pets with them

Resident Amy Armstrong told 7 News many tourists bring their dogs with them on holiday and thinks it is an ‘overreaction’ to ban them for months at a time.  

The proposal bans dogs from a section of Sackville Street, between Cox and Bank streets with locals worried it could keep away the desperately-needed summer tourist.  

The motion was presented to council in April by Councillor James Purcell following a serious dog fight in the town’s CBD.    

‘I was approached by a number of citizens who said what can we do about it, can you raise the subject and see what the community feels about it,’ Cr Purcell said on Monday to the Herald Sun.

‘So I put a motion up to the council meeting to review the local law and a part of that is to go out into the community and see what they think.’

Councillor James Purcell (pictured) presented the motion to council following a serious dog fight in the town 

Residents of Port Fairy (pictured) are divided over the issue, with over 800 submissions entered including a petition against the motion with over 1500 signatures 

There is concern the ban could ruin the image of the town (pictured) including impacts to safety and loss of trade considered by council

Cr Purcell said the debate around the issue was a good thing as people in the community were getting involved and having their say. 

The ban has potential to mar the image of the popular tourist destination with Cr Purcell saying the matter needs to be carefully considered including impacts to safety, loss in trade and the image of the town.

A similar rule exists in Port Fairy banning dogs from certain beaches during the summer months which Cr Purcell said has also divided people. 

A similar law exists in the town that bans dogs from certain beaches during the summer months, with many saying further restrictions could turn tourists away 

Robert Gibson the manager of the Moyne Shire Environment and Regulatory Services said all of the submission for the motion would be tabled at the meeting in November. 

‘All submissions, including the petition and joint letter are expected to be considered by Council at its November meeting where further details of the nature of the feedback will be presented,’ he said.

He said the review came after a dog fight on Fiddler’s Green in April this year and is being considered following a number of incidents involving dogs in the recent years.   

Moyne Shire Council Mayor Daniel Meade told 7 News there has been complaints about the amount of dogs on the main streets during the busy period as well as issues with dogs attacking other dogs. 

The review of the law came after a serious dog attack in the town (pictured) as well as complaints about the amount of dogs on the main streets during the busy period in summer