Community News

It's April 2026, the weather is perfect for walking, and the parks around Ramsgate, Kogarah, Sans Souci, and Beverley Park are at their best. But as the grasses dry out through April and May, a small and genuinely nasty hazard is emerging along the borders of almost every park and unmown verge in the area — and it's one that many dog owners don't notice until their dog is already in trouble.

Georges River Council has declared 19 bushland reserves as Wildlife Protection Areas for 2026— and the rules for pet owners are stricter than many locals realise. If you walk your dog at Carss Bush Park, Gannons Park, or H.V. Evatt Park, or if your cat roams near any of these reserves, this applies to you.

Autumn is the best time of year to walk the Cook Park foreshore. The summer crowds have gone, the beach restrictions on dogs have lifted, and the weather along Grand Parade between Ramsgate and Sans Souci is about as good as it gets. But with daylight saving ending on 6 April, the rules at nearby off-leash parks have quietly shifted — and a few things are worth knowing before you head out.

Australia's pesticide regulator changed the rules on rat bait in March 2026 — but if you have a dog or cat in Ramsgate, Kogarah, Sans Souci, Beverley Park, or Monterey, the risk to your pet hasn't gone away. Here's what changed, what hasn't, and what to watch for.