By JOLENE OGLE
IT LOOKS like local dogs will continue to run free with the proposed changes to the Sunshine beach off-leash area likely to be binned by council at the next ordinary meeting.
A report to the Planning and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday (28 April) showed that during the public consultation of the proposed subordinate laws, council received a petition with 1559 signatures and 584 submissions opposed to the changes to the North Sunshine Beach dog off-leash area.
This compared to only 29 submissions received in favour of the suggested animal management subordinate law that would change the off-leash area to an on-leash area.
The community was quick to protest the proposed changes, taking to social media to launch a campaign to prevent the proposed changes to the subordinate laws from being approved.
At the time of public consultation, Noosa Council said the changes to North Sunshine Beach were in response to a number of complaints following dog attacks on the beach.
“There have been seven reported incidents in the past six months in which dogs have attacked other dogs at North Sunshine Beach,” Noosa Council public order and safety manager Ron Thomas said.
In a report handed to councillors at the meeting, it was revealed 681 of the 684 submissions received in response to the proposed subordinate laws were about the changes to animal management.
The report stated changing the area to an on-leash zone for dogs could potentially reduce attacks in the future, but “the response from the community has been overwhelming in support of keeping the area as a dog off-leash area”.
The report recommended the off-leash area stay as it is and suggested improved signage, increased patrols by officers and the possibility of an honorary ranger program to help reduce the risk of attacks.
Other responses to the proposed subordinate laws included, 28 submissions against the proposal to shorten the dog on-leash area at Peregian Beach, while two submissions for the change.
The report recommended the proposed subordinate law be amended to retain the status quo, “which provides a dog on-leash area running south from Access 59 to Access 67”.
Council also received 12 submissions and a petition with 2000 signatures requesting Chaplin Park, Noosaville, be changed to an off-leash dog area, with one submission received, supporting the park’s current status as an on-leash area.
The report to council recommended the proposed subordinate law not to be changed, leaving Chaplin Park as an on-leash area, with public consultation on the issue to take place at a later date as part of a broader management plan for the space.
Other suggested changes to the proposed subordinate laws include one submission that called for the use of legs ropes on surfboards to be made compulsory but, the report stated that while the idea has merit, enforcing such a provision would be incredibly difficult.
The report will now be presented to Noosa Council at the next ordinary meeting at council chambers on 7 May.
