other · City of Hobart
Hobart council keeps South Hobart Oval dog access in 2026-31 policy
City of Hobart councillors adopted a new Dog Management Policy for 2026-2031 after defeating an amendment that would have restricted off-lead exercise at South Hobart Oval to weekday mornings.
City of Hobart councillors adopted the Dog Management Policy for 2026-2031 at their 23 February meeting after defeating an amendment to tighten off-lead dog exercise at South Hobart Oval.
The failed amendment, moved by Cr Lohberger and seconded by Cr Bloomfield, would have allowed off-lead exercise only on weekdays between 5am and 11am. It also would have excluded days when soccer matches were scheduled, or when the oval was closed for match preparation, maintenance, repair or had been booked.
Council instead backed Attachment C as recommended, including the section that references South Hobart Oval. The adopted resolution also records that council will note public submissions received during consultation, adopt Attachment A as the dog management policy for 2026-2031, declare the areas in Attachment B and notify the amended declared areas in Attachment C.
The same resolution also approved a fenced off-lead dog park at Lower Wellesley Park, South Hobart. It is to be built as soon as possible, used by 1 July 2026 and funded through the city’s 2025/26 Capital Works Program at a cost of $180,000.
The South Hobart Oval vote was one of the clearest local flashpoints in the meeting. The tighter weekday-morning limit did not get up, and the oval references remained in the adopted attachment.
Councillors also amended a clause involving the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The revised wording authorises the chief executive officer to negotiate with the gardens about land transfer to Hobart City Council and return a report to council.
Other business included endorsements of submissions on the Macquarie Point Northern Access Road concept design assessment, the draft Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy and the Mount Nelson Local Area Mobility Plan. A motion on meeting times was deferred to a workshop.
The meeting also heard a motion on second-generation rodenticides, but the extracted minutes do not clearly show the final vote outcome.
Reference minutes
City of Hobart Council, 23 February 2026 ordinary meeting minutes.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted the Dog Management Policy for the City of Hobart for 2026-2031.
- A proposed amendment to limit off-lead dog exercise at South Hobart Oval to weekday mornings only was lost.
- Council adopted Attachment C, including the section referencing South Hobart Oval, as recommended.
- The resolution includes a fenced off-lead dog park at Lower Wellesley Park, South Hobart, to be built for $180,000 and used by 1 July 2026.
- The policy and declared areas were considered under the Dog Control Act 2000.
- The Council also amended a clause involving the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens so the CEO can negotiate and report back.
- Council endorsed submissions on the Macquarie Point Northern Access Road concept design assessment, the draft Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy and the Mount Nelson Local Area Mobility Plan.
Why it matters
- South Hobart dog owners and oval users will not face the tighter off-lead limit that was proposed, while Hobart’s wider dog rules have been locked in for 2026-2031.