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Dogs at Arapilies?? 13-Nov-2014 At 3:52:37 PM fbs003

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http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/618566/Arapiles-50-brochure.pdf

Published 11/12/13 so it's newer than the 1991 Park Management document referred to in previous posts, looks like dogs were more tolerated back then. Dogs are only allowed at the Picnic shelter now.

Good brochure actually, never knew the pines were planted in 1930's to mark the centenary of Major Mitchell's visit in 1836

In case this link above goes dead here's the transcript:
Page 5 Quote:
The issue of dogs in our parks does seem to upset
people on both sides of the fence. The fact is – that
in the majority of parks and this includes Mt Arapiles,
dogs are banned. In the case of Mt Arapiles, dogs are
allowed in the Picnic Shelter area. On many occasions
when people have been confronted in the park with
their dogs, justifications such as: The dog is on a leash.
It’s very well behaved. It’s only a small dog etc are
often offered as their reason for bringing a dog in.
There are many reasons as to why it is not appropriate
to bring dogs in. Cats also fall into the same category
although visitors are not so willing to bring cats along
for the journey. But the feral cat population is growing at
Arapiles and its surrounds and they also impact on the
wildlife in the park
One of the main reasons dogs are not allowed at Mt
Arapiles is to ensure that the park is managed in
accordance with its objectives, to preserve and protect
the natural environment and to conserve flora and
fauna. Dogs can compete with or harass, chase, trample
or prey upon native fauna, especially ground-dwelling
species. Dogs can also disturb wildlife by their scent,
sounds, scratching and digging. Dogs may also transmit
diseases and parasites to native fauna, and their urine
and excrement may attract wild dogs and foxes. Even
if a dog is on a lead and is very obedient it would be
impossible to have a rule which allowed some dogs (the
quiet or small ones) into parks and similar reserves but
not others (the big and the boisterous).