Demand ACT government mandate on-leash rules around all ACT ponds
The issue
ACT ponds—including popular areas like Gungahlin Pond—are vital habitats for native birdlife and local wildlife. However, the ACT Government currently classifies several of these sensitive wetland zones as dog off-leash areas. Dogs, through no fault of their own possess a natural prey drive, and placing off-leash exercise zones directly adjacent to wildlife breeding grounds leads to predictable and devastating outcomes.
Recently, onlookers witnessed a heartbreaking incident at a local pond where an off-leash dog attacked a swan and killed one of its cygnets. Despite clear evidence of the danger off-leash dogs pose to vulnerable species, current land management regulations remain unchanged. We must act now before more of our local wildlife is lost.
Why This Matters:
• Immediate Threat to Native Wildlife: Ponds are primary nesting and feeding grounds for black swans, ducks, and other native aquatic birds that cannot quickly escape roaming dogs.
• Flawed Land Designation: Mixing unrestricted dog exercise areas with fragile wetland ecosystems creates an unavoidable conflict between domestic pets and local fauna.
• Public Distress: Community members and families should not have to witness violent maulings of native animals in public recreational spaces. Dogs shouldn't be placed in these situations and blamed for situations that humans allowed.
What We Are Asking For:
We call upon the ACT Government and relevant land councils to take immediate action to protect local biodiversity by implementing the following measures:
• Mandate On-Leash Rules Around All Ponds: Reclassify all land immediately surrounding every pond and wetland area in the ACT as strictly on-leash only, establishing clear buffer zones near the water's edge where dogs are not permitted off-lead.
• Approve Safe Wildlife Refuges: Provide approval and funding for floating pontoons in ACT ponds—or grant community permission to install them—giving waterbirds a safe, elevated sanctuary away from predators.
• Update Signage and Enforcement: Install clear signage around all ACT waterways outlining the on-leash requirements and enforce compliance to ensure the safety of our native species.
Sign this petition to demand that the ACT Government prioritizes the protection of our precious local birdlife and wetlands
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The issue
ACT ponds—including popular areas like Gungahlin Pond—are vital habitats for native birdlife and local wildlife. However, the ACT Government currently classifies several of these sensitive wetland zones as dog off-leash areas. Dogs, through no fault of their own possess a natural prey drive, and placing off-leash exercise zones directly adjacent to wildlife breeding grounds leads to predictable and devastating outcomes.
Recently, onlookers witnessed a heartbreaking incident at a local pond where an off-leash dog attacked a swan and killed one of its cygnets. Despite clear evidence of the danger off-leash dogs pose to vulnerable species, current land management regulations remain unchanged. We must act now before more of our local wildlife is lost.
Why This Matters:
• Immediate Threat to Native Wildlife: Ponds are primary nesting and feeding grounds for black swans, ducks, and other native aquatic birds that cannot quickly escape roaming dogs.
• Flawed Land Designation: Mixing unrestricted dog exercise areas with fragile wetland ecosystems creates an unavoidable conflict between domestic pets and local fauna.
• Public Distress: Community members and families should not have to witness violent maulings of native animals in public recreational spaces. Dogs shouldn't be placed in these situations and blamed for situations that humans allowed.
What We Are Asking For:
We call upon the ACT Government and relevant land councils to take immediate action to protect local biodiversity by implementing the following measures:
• Mandate On-Leash Rules Around All Ponds: Reclassify all land immediately surrounding every pond and wetland area in the ACT as strictly on-leash only, establishing clear buffer zones near the water's edge where dogs are not permitted off-lead.
• Approve Safe Wildlife Refuges: Provide approval and funding for floating pontoons in ACT ponds—or grant community permission to install them—giving waterbirds a safe, elevated sanctuary away from predators.
• Update Signage and Enforcement: Install clear signage around all ACT waterways outlining the on-leash requirements and enforce compliance to ensure the safety of our native species.
Sign this petition to demand that the ACT Government prioritizes the protection of our precious local birdlife and wetlands
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Petition created on 10 September 2026