THOSE wanting to take their furry best friends out and about in Port Fairy will need to be mindful of the dog restrictions in place across the town.

The restrictions put in place across the Moyne Shire include prohibiting dogs on some Council beaches and reserves between 9am and 6pm daily between December 24 and Easter Monday inclusive.

The seasonal changes aim to balance the needs of beach goers and dog owners over the busy warmer months.

In Port Fairy, the areas of Griffiths Island and Sandy Cove Nature Reserve are prohibited to dogs at all times, while the beach between South Beach carpark and Powling Street, as well as the beach between Battery Lane and Connolly Street, are off limits to dogs between 9am-6pm everyday until midnight Easter Monday.

Moyne Shire Council Environment and Regulatory Services manager, Robert Gibson said the prohibited areas had been identified due to the need to protect the environment.

“(Griffiths Island) is a conservation reserve supporting a fragile native ecosystem and dogs in this area can impact the local fauna, as well as posing a risk to nesting shearwaters and swamp wallabies,” he said.

Mr Gibson said the restrictions also took into consideration the needs of pet owners, with the beaches between South Beach carpark and Powling Street, and Battery Lane and Connolly Street, able to be accessed with dogs outside the specified prohibited times.

“Outside these dates and hours, dogs are permitted on these beaches,” he said.

“These time limits allow everyone to have the opportunity to access the beach while minimising the risk of dogs impacting the ability for people to safely and comfortably enjoy the beach during the busier times.

“Regardless of when dogs are permitted on the beaches, dog owners are obliged to keep their dog under control and not allow it to rush, bite or intimidate others.”

Dogs must also be on a leash at Southcombe Caravan Park and Gardens Oval until midnight on April 30 and are required to be on a leash around marked Hooded Plover nest sites.

“Port Fairy beaches are home to the threatened Hooded Plover species, whose breeding season is over spring and summer,” Mr Gibson said.

“To help the young chicks survive, dog owners are required to place their dog on a lead when within 50 metres of a marked Hooded Plover nest site, which are located between Connolly Street and Anna Catherine Drive.

“Where possible, dogs should be kept well clear of the birds.”

Penalties for having a dog on the beach during the prohibited times are fines of $100 per dog.

Moyne Shire Council also encourage all dog owners to ensure their pet is wearing a tag with their mobile phone number on it as this will assist officers in returning the dog if it happens to run away.

Dog owners are also reminded to pick up after their pets.

A significant number of streets within the town have also been marked as on leash areas such as the area bounded by and including Ritchie Street, Moyne River, Gipps Street, Regent Street, Albert Street, Villiers Street, O’Reilly Street, Campbell Street, Aitkins Street and Victoria Street.

This area is also bounded by but excludes East Beach, Martins Point, King George Square, Battery Hill, Powling Street Wetlands, Gardens Caravan Park and Botanic Gardens

Mr Gibson said all areas had clear signage and he was thankful to members of the community and visitors for following the current restrictions.

“We know how valued our furry friends are in the Moyne Shire, but it is a fragile environment and we encourage dog owners to be considerate and to take note of signed areas detailing restrictions when walking their dog,” he said.

The Moyne Shire responsible dog ownership brochures, outlining restricted and on-leash areas are available at the Port Fairy Tourist Information Centre, Moyne Shire Council Offices and online at bit.ly/3GGLSra