Our Customer Service Centre is temporarily located at Speers Point Library, opposite Council's Administration Building.
Barking is a natural behaviour for dogs and just one way by which they communicate. However, we understand in some cases barking dogs may become a neighbourhood nuisance, impacting on the amenity of the area.
If you are the owner of a barking dog, the RSPCA has training tips that may help.
If a barking dog affects you, we advise that you must take the following actions to resolve the issue:
The owner may not realise their dog is bothering you or others in the area, and in many cases will be happy to work with you to solve the problem. Discussing it with them first and advising them of when the barking is a problem could help them to find a way to address it. If you feel the dog's owner is unapproachable or you are uncomfortable doing so, a polite letter in their letterbox may help.
The State Government has made the decision to close all Community Justice Centres in 2025. Eligible residents can now seek advice from the following services, including:
- LawAccess NSW - a free information service run by Legal Aid NSW
- Community Legal Centres that provide free legal advice to eligible persons. Examples include the University of Newcastle Legal Centre and Hunter Community Legal Centre
- The Law Society's Pro Bono Scheme - an application-based program were eligible applicants are referred to volunteer solicitors who provide legal assistance for free or on a substantially reduced fee basis
Lake Macquarie City Council does not provide legal advice to its residents, nor is a platform for mediation. Privately funded Court litigation and mediation can be an expensive drawn-out process, therefore we encourage residents to resolve their disputes early.
Alternatively, you can apply to the local court for a Noise Abatement Order. If the court is satisfied that the dog is causing offensive noise, or that the noise is likely to recur, it may order the owner to stop the noise within a specified time or prevent a recurrence.