Official Yallingup dog exercise area approved by City of Busselton

Surf’s up for Yallingup dogs, with the City of Busselton approving the first and only official dog exercise area in the Western Capes.

A 1km stretch of Yallingup Beach north that has been informally used as a dog exercise area for years is set to become an official off-leash dog beach.

City acting director planning and development services Rachel Runco said the formalisation of the area was well-supported by the community.

“Prior to the creation of its existing dog exercise areas, the city carried out extensive consultation with the community,” she said.

“The consultation process indicated strong support for the city to create dog exercise areas, including beaches, where residents and visitors to the city can exercise their dogs off-leash.”

The new exercise area is accessible via the Dawson Drive access path and will stretch 1km up the northern coast of the beach bounded by Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in the east and Ngari Capes Marine Park in the west.

The area will be the only permanent dog exercise area in the Western Capes, with the off-lead area at Smiths Beach permitting dogs for only three quarters of the year, outside of summer.

Ms Runco said there had been complaints from locals about dogs in the prohibited Yallingup Lagoon area and hoped the new area would be a happy medium.

“The formal designation of the beach north of the Dawson Drive access path will provide dog owners with choice and given the choice, the majority of dog owners will continue to comply with dog management controls throughout our district,” she said.