Yarra City Council has endorsed changes to the Council Order during its recent Council Meeting on Tuesday 10 October 2023.

These changes form part of the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) actions adopted in 2021, and reflect the council's dedication to responsible pet ownership and the safeguarding of local wildlife. 

A significant highlight of the endorsed changes is the introduction of a night-time cat curfew. Effective from Monday 1 January 2024, cat owners within Yarra will be required to keep their pet cats within their owner's premises between 7pm and 7am.  

This measure received strong community support during our recent community consultation, and aligns Yarra with several inner-city councils that have either introduced or are contemplating similar cat curfew measures. 

Keeping cats indoors during the curfew hours presents numerous benefits for pet cats and the community at large: 

Reduces risk of disease: Research indicates that cats are more prone to catching diseases from other roaming cats if they are allowed outdoors at night. 

Less chance of injury: The likelihood of cats getting into fights, contracting feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), or being hit by a car is significantly reduced when they are kept indoors at night. 

Less chance of going missing: There's a reduced risk of cats getting lost in unfamiliar territory or being accidentally locked in garages or sheds. 

Reduces exposure to weather extremes: Roaming far from home can expose cats to weather extremes such as thunderstorms, frost, and heat, which can be hazardous to their health. 

Protects fragile ecosystem: By keeping cats indoors, especially at night, we are taking a step towards protecting Australia's delicate ecosystem from the predatory nature of cats, which results in the loss of millions of native Australian animals, including birds and marsupials, annually. 

These benefits underscore the holistic approach Yarra Council is taking to ensure the co-existence of residents, their pets, and the native wildlife in Yarra, which helps promote a harmonious living environment for all. 

Further endorsed changed to the Council Order include:  

• Strengthening the control of dogs and cats in public spaces to mitigate environmental harm and nuisance. 
• Updating Clause 5 of the Council Order to clearly outline pet owner responsibilities in designated off-leash areas, ensuring no damage to sporting fields and requiring dogs to be leashed during maintenance operations by the Council or contractors. 
• The inclusion of O'Connell Reserve in Schedule 1 of the Council Order as a designated off-leash area, and the reclassification of Cairns Reserve to a leash-required park from a previously prohibited park for dogs. 

These amendments underline Yarra Council’s commitment to improving the management and control of pets in public spaces, which helps to promote a safe, enjoyable, and harmonious community and environment. 

Yarra Council extends its gratitude towards all residents and members of the community who participated in the consultation process, which played an important role in shaping the future of pet management in Yarra for the benefit of the entire community and the local ecosystem.