Dogs will be banned from Mount Gisborne Reserve, beginning next year, in a bid to protect its native flora and fauna.
The unanimous vote came as Macedon Ranges Shire councillors endorsed the Council Dog and Cat Order 2019 – Domestic Animals Act 1994.
The order introduced requirements for dogs to be on-leash in public places, except designated areas, and cats to be confined to their owners’ premises from sunset to sunrise.
Councillor Helen Radnedge moved to add Mount Gisborne Reserve to the list of designated prohibited areas for dogs which includes Jacksons Creek, Gisborne Marshlands, Campaspe River, Malmsbury Common, Five Mile Creek (Woodend and Romsey) and Hanging Rock Reserve.
The move follows an on-lead trial policy for dogs in the reserve this year, the result of community feedback on a proposed ban that had split the community.
The no-dogs ban responded to a petition led by the Friends of Mount Gisborne Nature Reserve that held 58 signatures.
The group had highlighted the reserve as “the only nature conservation zone in the area,” and home to eastern grey kangaroos, black wallabies, koalas, sugar gliders, brush-tailed phascogales, echidnas, blue-tongued lizards and copperhead snakes.
Group president Bryan Power said the imposed ban was a “massive win” for protecting the fauna at the reserve.
“A lot of people don’t understand the impact that their dog may have of the natural environment,” he said.
“There are so many other places that people can take their dogs but really need to look after our reserves.”
The dog control order will come into effect from January 2020 and the cat control order from July 2020.
