Wildlife and community safety at Edwardes Lake Park

Published on 02 August 2023

Protecting wildlife at Edwardes Lake Park includes patrols, education and making sure people in control of their pets at all times.

Note: This article contains mention of an animal attack

When it comes to protecting wildlife at Edwardes Lake Park, we need to do better. The passing of the beloved swan Mabel and baby cygnet as the result of separate dog attacks were avoidable tragedies that we never want to happen again.

At our 24 July 2023 Council Meeting, we unanimously carried an urgent motion to receive a report about Edwardes Lake Park, dog behaviour and responsible pet ownership.

Darebin is committed to improving wildlife and community safety in our parks in relation to off-lead or uncontrolled dogs. We have increased park patrols of Edwardes Lake Park where Officers will:

• Actively engage with the community
• Provide education on responsible pet ownership
• Take enforcement actions and impose penalties for owners with off-leash dogs and dogs not under effective control.
• Direct dog owners to the off-leash park.

Other initiatives such as responsible pet ownership workshops and increased signage are also being rolled out this year.

If you are a dog owner we are calling on you to keep your dog on their leash and under control when out and about. There’s just no excuse for your dog to be off its leash unless you’re in a designated off-leash area.

We thank those who are doing the right thing.

Let’s work together to keep our wildlife, and our community safe.

Find out more at about responsible pet ownership.