The rules, in plain language
Dogs on a leash. Not near the play equipment.
Wairoa Reserve is not an off-leash park. That is council's rule, not ours, and the reasons are good ones: ground-nesting birds in spring, kids on the equipment, and the garden beds.
What council says
Quoted from Waverley Council's Dogs in Public Places brochure and its off-leash parks page, checked 2026-09-19. Council's pages are the authority; if they differ from this page, they win.
- On a leash, always. "Your dog must be under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash at all times, unless in an approved off-leash area." Wairoa Reserve is not on the approved list.
- 10 metres from the playground. Dogs are prohibited "within 10 metres of children's playground equipment".
- Pick up. "Owners must pick up and appropriately dispose of dog droppings."
- Fines. Council rangers can fine for non-compliance. Council does not publish amounts on its dog pages, so neither do we.
Want to let them run?
Two real off-leash parks are close by. Both are on council's list; the names open in Google Maps.
| Park | Suburb | Off-leash hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Bamford Reserve (north end) | North Bondi | All day |
| Barracluff Park | North Bondi | 3pm to 10am, except during sport or events |
Source: Waverley Council off-leash parks, checked 2026-09-19. Timed areas can be suspended for sport and events.
Why it matters here
The park is small, open on every side with no gate or fence, and a lot happens in it. A dog off the lead here is a few metres from the road. Superb Fairywrens and Silvereyes forage low in the shrubs, where an off-leash dog is a predator. The garden's wicking beds are at dog-nose height. And the play equipment is used by toddlers who cannot tell a friendly dog from an unfriendly one. See what has been heard today to put names to the birds you're sharing the park with.
Seen a dog off-leash or something that needs a ranger? Report it to council, not to us. We don't take reports and we don't publish photos of dogs or owners.