Following the success of the Mona Vale Beach South trial, Northern Beaches Council is working toward a potential off-leash dog area at Governor Phillip Park in Palm Beach. The plan is still in development — and community feedback will play a major role in whether it goes ahead. Here's where things stand and how you can get involved.
In Short:
Northern Beaches Council is preparing a new Plan of Management for Governor Phillip Park at Palm Beach North, which includes a proposal for a dog off-leash area trial. The draft plan was referred to the NSW Government in January 2026 for review, with public exhibition expected mid-2026. No trial has commenced yet, but community input will be critical when consultation opens.
Dog owners who want to see this happen should follow the project and be ready to provide feedback when the time comes.
What's Being Proposed?
In August 2023, Northern Beaches Council resolved to prepare Plans of Management for two potential off-leash dog trial sites — Mona Vale Beach South and Governor Phillip Park at Palm Beach North. The Mona Vale trial is already up and running. The Palm Beach proposal is still working through the planning process.
Governor Phillip Park sits between Barrenjoey Headland and Beach Road at the northern tip of Palm Beach. It's a well-known and well-loved stretch of Crown land bordered by the ocean on one side and Pittwater on the other. The proposal would incorporate a dog off-leash area trial into the broader Plan of Management for the entire park.
This isn't just about dogs — the revised Plan of Management will cover all current and future use of the park, including recreation, facilities, access and environmental management. But the off-leash dog trial is a key component that many locals are watching closely.
Where Is It Up To?
The project has been progressing through several stages:
April–June 2024: Council gathered ideas and aspirations from the community, receiving over 180 responses covering a wide range of views on how the park should be used and managed.
Late 2024–Late 2025: Council prepared the draft Plan of Management using community input and environmental assessments, including a Review of Environmental Factors completed in 2023.
January 2026: The draft Plan of Management was referred to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for review and endorsement to publicly exhibit.
Mid-2026 (expected): Council plans to report the draft Plan of Management and request approval for public exhibition — this is when the broader community will have a formal opportunity to review and comment on the full plan, including the proposed dog off-leash trial.
Late 2026 (expected): Following public exhibition and feedback review, Council is expected to report on the final Plan of Management and request formal adoption.
The trial itself has not commenced and cannot begin until the Plan of Management is adopted. Because Governor Phillip Park is Crown land managed by Council, a legally compliant Plan of Management must be in place before any changes to how the park is used — including allowing dogs off-leash.
Why Does This Matter?
Ocean-facing dog beaches in Sydney are exceptionally rare. Greenhills Beach in Cronulla is the only permanent one, and the Mona Vale Beach South trial is the only other current option. If the Palm Beach proposal goes ahead, it would add a third ocean-accessible option for Sydney's Northern Beaches dog owners — and further establish the Northern Beaches as the most dog-friendly region in Sydney.
For local dog owners who currently drive to Rowland Reserve in Bayview or down to Mona Vale for off-leash beach access, a Palm Beach option would be a significant addition.
How to Have Your Say
Community feedback will be a deciding factor in whether this proposal progresses. Here's how to get involved:
Right Now
The formal public exhibition hasn't opened yet, but you can still make your voice heard:
- Email Council with your support or feedback at council@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au — mark your message "Governor Phillip Park Plan of Management."
- Write to Council at Northern Beaches Council, PO Box 82, Manly NSW 1655, marked "Governor Phillip Park Plan of Management."
- Call the Open Space Planning Team on 1300 434 434 during business hours to speak with the team managing the project.
When Public Exhibition Opens (Expected Mid-2026)
This is the most important window. When the draft Plan of Management goes on public exhibition, there will be a formal consultation period where anyone can submit detailed feedback. This is the stage where volume and quality of community responses carry real weight in Council's decision-making.
Tips for Effective Feedback
When the public exhibition opens, here's how to make your submission count:
- Be specific. Rather than just saying "I support it," explain how you'd use the off-leash area, how often, and why it matters to you and your dog.
- Be constructive. Acknowledge that the park has multiple users and show you understand the need to balance dog access with environmental protection and other community needs.
- Share your experience. If you've used the Mona Vale trial successfully and responsibly, mention it — it demonstrates that Northern Beaches dog owners can make these trials work.
- Encourage others. The more individual submissions Council receives in support, the stronger the case. Share the project page with other local dog owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my dog off-leash at Governor Phillip Park right now?
No. The proposed trial has not commenced. Dogs must be kept on-leash in designated areas at Governor Phillip Park and are prohibited from the beach. This won't change until a new Plan of Management is adopted and Council formally approves a trial.
When will the trial start?
There's no confirmed start date. The draft Plan of Management is currently with the NSW Government for review. Public exhibition is expected mid-2026, with a final Council decision anticipated late 2026. If approved, the trial would likely follow sometime after that.
Is this the same as the Mona Vale Beach trial?
It's a similar concept — a time-restricted off-leash area on a beach — but it's a separate proposal at a different location. The Mona Vale trial is already running (October 2025–October 2026), while the Palm Beach proposal is still in the planning and approval stage.
Will the off-leash area be on the ocean side or the Pittwater side?
The specific boundaries haven't been publicly confirmed in the final draft yet. Governor Phillip Park has frontage to both the ocean (Palm Beach) and Pittwater (Station Beach). The details will be outlined in the draft Plan of Management when it goes on public exhibition.
What can I do to help this go ahead?
Follow the project on Your Say Northern Beaches, email your support to Council, and submit a detailed response when the public exhibition opens. Responsible dog ownership at existing off-leash areas — like the Mona Vale trial — also strengthens the broader case for expanding dog-friendly beach access on the Northern Beaches.
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