Off-leash a doggy delight

NOOSA Council has signed off on a suite of new local laws that retain all of Noosa’s existing dog off-leash areas and add some new ones in areas suggested by residents.
The decision, ratified last night, reflects residents’ calls for the north Sunshine Beach and Peregian Beach dog off-leash areas to remain unchanged.
The local laws also provide new off-leash areas in the hinterland, including Cooroy’s Kauri Park and the Boreen Point sports oval and a section of foreshore.
A new off-leash dog park will also be established in Shorehaven Drive park at Noosa Waters, from 1 July.
“We asked the community to have a say on a range of draft Noosa-specific local laws to replace those inherited with de-amalgamation and Noosa residents have welcomed the opportunity,” Mayor Noel Playford said.
“All of the feedback that residents have taken the time to provide has helped us to deliver a set of local laws that our community should be comfortable with.”
Council received 684 submissions with 681 of those for the dog off-leash areas, the majority opposing changes to off-leash areas at Peregian Beach and north Sunshine Beach.
Council scrapped a proposal to designate Rainbow Park at Sunrise Beach and Di Hirst Oval at Peregian Beach as dog off-leash areas, in response to feedback from the community.
Di Hirst Oval will be included in a future management plan for the area to assess if an off-leash area can be incorporated along with other uses.
Chaplin Park will not be designated a dog off-leash area, although council will undertake a future management plan for the park and during that process consideration will be given to establish an off-leash area.
Council has also tightened up the nuisance smoke laws, that will require fire appliances used for heating and cooking – within urban areas – to comply with Australian Standards in respect to smoke emissions.
“This is in an attempt to reduce the risk that smoke poses for people with breathing conditions such as asthma,” Noosa Council Public Order and Safety Manager Ron Thomas said.
In another change from 1 July smoking a cigarette will also be prohibited within five metres of all Noosa Shire bus stops and anywhere in Noosa Junction’s Arcadia Walk.
“In most cases we have maintained the status quo while making the new local laws more user-friendly, simpler and easier to understand,” Cr Playford said.
“On behalf of council I’d like to thank all of the residents who took the time to have a say.”
The new local laws will come into effect on 1 July 2015 after they are gazetted.