Dog exercise areas (DEAs)

Site planning     

• The Sunshine Coast Council Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025-45, categorises Dog Off Leash Areas (DOLAs) as follows:
  • Council-wide DOLAs
  • District DOLAs
  • Local DOLAs
• The Plan also designates specific areas of the foreshore as Beach DOLAs, which feature different design and embellishment requirements.
• Amendments to local laws are required to create a new DOLA. Liaise with Council (Customer Response and Corporate Governance).
• A Multi Criteria Risk Assessment (MCRA) and associated Pairwise assessment must be carried out as part of any new DOLA project. 
• Council’s preference is for a fully fenced DOLA, although in some circumstances an unfenced DOLA may be the only site specific solution where certain hazards are present (e.g. slope/flooding constraints). Council-wide DOLAs must feature full perimeter fencing.

DEA activity area elements

The Plan outlines multiple activity areas depending on the DOLA hierarchy classification:  

• Dog run areas 
• Agility/training zones 
• Rummaging zones 
• Socialisation zones 
• Chillout/quiet dog zones 
• Digging pits 
• Water play areas 
• Dog sports zones

Design considerations:

• Dog run areas must be free of obstacles.
• Agility equipment must have no sharp edges, entrapments or protrusions. It must be fixed in place and not adjustable. 
• DOLAs should also feature separate (individually fenced) areas for small and large dogs wherever possible.

Design/positioning – site layout

• Locate DOLAs away from incompatible land uses and embellishments including:
  • Conflicting activities - e.g. sports facilities, skate parks, exercise and picnic nodes.
  • Barbecues and playgrounds - under local laws, dogs are prohibited within 5.0 m of barbecues and playgrounds. Dog infrastructure (dog bag dispenser, dog bowl) is not to be installed nearby to these embellishments.
  • Residential areas - where possible, new DOLAs are to be separated from residential areas by a minimum of 20 m to avoid noise issues.
  • Busy roads/bikeways - for improved user amenity and to minimise opportunity for accidents
  • Environmentally sensitive areas - e.g. wildlife corridors, bird feeding/roost areas.
  • Culturally significant areas.
  • Hazards - e.g. waterways, fire and flood prone areas, sewers and stormwater drains, underground services and power poles.
  • DOLAs should feature dedicated access pathway networks to minimise potential for negative interactions with other pathway users (i.e. barbecue area/bikeways) wherever possible.
  • Equal access paths, facilities and embellishments are required for all users.
  • Site to be well turfed and landscaped and is to feature adequate drainage. 

Design/positioning – embellishments

• Fences and gates:
  • Full perimeter fencing is preferred wherever possible. DOLAs should only be unfenced where site constraints do not allow for full perimeter fencing.
  • Fencing is to be a minimum of 1.2 m high and set back a minimum of 2.0 m from any embellishment/natural feature that a dog may climb/jump from.
  • Concrete mowing/anti-digging strip should be used only when adjacent to risk areas including roads, highly trafficable areas or environmentally sensitive areas. If the concrete mowing/anti-digging strip is installed, it MUST be installed directly under fenceline to prevent dogs escaping. Fencing is to feature a maximum gap of 50 mm between bottom rail and concrete mowing/anti-dig strip.
  • Locate fencing and anti-dig strips to take account of natural drainage lines and overland flows to prevent ponding. Align fences away from trees to avoid root damage and the need for tree pruning.
  • Minimum of two separate dual pedestrian gates for each enclosure and one vehicle gate for each enclosure.
  • Furniture:
    • Locate waste bins no more than 80 m from waste truck collection points. For a fenced DOLA, locate bins outside the fence at the primary entry and waste bag dispensers at all entries.
    • Locate dog bowls and taps adjacent to paths and away from run area.  In fenced DEA also locate away from gates. Splash pad required.
    • To ensure user hygiene, drinking fountains are not to be located inside a DOLA.
    • Picnic tables and benches are NOT preferred in fenced DOLAs.
    • Provide seating in the shaded locations and positioned so that owners can keep sight of their dogs.
    • Locate taps and seating away from entries to avoid user congestion.
  • Shade:
    • Natural shade is preferred.  
    • Constructed shade structures (i.e. shelters) may be used where natural shade cannot be provided. Note that for constructed shade structures, galvanised posts must NOT be used as dog urine can corrode posts.
  • Paths: 
    • Dedicated paths are to be provided to the DOLA entrance to avoid potential for conflict with other users of the open space. 
    • Connect DOLAs to external path networks.
    • Fenced DOLAs - internal paths must be provided to connect all entry/exit gates.
    • Paths and planting can help to provide a separation of activities.
  • Signs: 
    • All DEAs must provide signage in accordance with the LIM Suite of signs. Liaise with Council Customer Response branch for signage selection requirements and advice.
  • Landscape planting:
    • Should be robust, non-poisonous (particularly to dogs) and not feature thorns/sharp protrusions.
    • CPTED - good sight lines into, out of and through the DOLA.
    • Buffer planting between separated small and large dog areas to minimise any potential for negative interactions.