There are some changes coming to off-leash dog beaches in Wollongong. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Dog access to Wollongong’s beaches will be consistent year-round under proposed changes.
Currently, beaches that operate under a timed arrangement are off-leash before 9 am and after 4 pm in winter and before 9 am and after 6 pm in summer.
Under a new proposal they will be off-leash before 9 am and after 5 pm year-round.
It’s not the only change on the cards.
The off-leash area on McCauley’s Beach could be reduced to between Corbett Avenue, Thirroul through to just south of the creek line where the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place is located.
Beyond this point dogs would be allowed on-leash up until the rock platform to the south.
Wollongong City General Manager Greg Doyle said the proposed change was due to environmental pressures changing the state of the beach.
“There have been storm surges with a lot of scarping and there’s a loss of access to the southern stairway,” he said.
“As a result we’re trying to create more of a buffer with the declared Aboriginal Place under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.”
The proposed changes are part of the council’s Dogs on Beaches and Parks Policy review and update, soon to go on public exhibition for feedback.
Councillor Richard Martin pushed back on the proposal.
He encouraged staff to remove the proposed changes but continue to monitor the off-leash area.
“This beach means a lot to me,” he said.
“When I moved here in 2011 with my dog it was his favourite beach. In 2014 the council tried to close down dogs on beaches, and I stood on the other side of the room to fight for it.
“We had a big community campaign, including a petition signed by 2000 dogs.
“My heart was broken when my dog died of an enlarged heart after 15 years; that’s what dogs do, because they feel for everybody.
“Every time this policy comes up it stirs up a hornet’s nest for some unknown reason.
“McCauley’s Beach hasn’t got lifeguards, and it’s often people there walking their dogs who act as lifeguards.
“Let’s see this go out on exhibition and see what the community has to say.”
The council has a legislative responsibility to provide one off-leash dog area for the region’s 86,000 dogs.
The Dogs on Beaches and Parks Policy uses a three-tier traffic light system; green is for off-leash areas, orange is for on-leash timed areas, and red is for prohibited areas.
Any public area not specifically designated under the three-tier system allows access for dogs at any time provided they are on-leash.
There are six off-leash dog parks and 10 off-leash dog beaches from Stanwell Park to Port Kembla, with a further 11 beaches offering timed access.
As part of the public exhibition of the updated policy residents are encouraged to provide their ideas on potential future off-leash dog parks or other sites throughout the city.
Keep an eye on the council’s website for when the policy feedback goes live.
