Access to off leash beaches is crucial for dog owners, but Wollongong Council is trying to find a balance for the rest of the community. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
Hundreds of Wollongong residents have had their say on the city’s dog-friendly areas.
A seasonal ‘traffic light system’ is set to continue on beaches, and pets are still permitted in all designated public spaces despite concerns raised about their impact on culturally significant and family-friendly sites.
McCauleys Beach will continue to be an off leash area for dogs with Wollongong City Council pushing ahead with its plans to keep the stretch included as a green zone following a review of its policies around dogs on beaches and parks.
Dharawal elder Sharralyn Robinson urged councillors to change the classification of the beach due to its cultural significance, instead asking for it be a prohibited red zone.
“Why is it that we think it’s OK to have dogs off leash on a burial site? It’s not OK; it’s disrespectful,” Aunty Shas said.
“I’ve asked this council many times to pay respect to our ancestors and our people that have gone before us and yet it has fallen on deaf ears.
“Would you allow dogs to roam free at Wollongong Cemetery? I think not. I know I certainly wouldn’t. I wouldn’t take my dogs down there. I would show respect to those that have passed on, those that are dead, those that are in the ground.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against dogs but I just ask that some common sense be shown. Don’t let dogs on a burial site.”
She also expressed concerns about hygiene, health and for people who fear dogs – including children.
Those sentiments were echoed by Port Kembla’s Mark Peterlin who spoke on behalf of residents who were calling for Fishermans Beach to also be declared a red zone.
“Port Kembla is a very unique suburb in that it has three beaches, all of which are dog beaches,” Mark said.
“Fishermans Beach is probably the safest beach in Illawarra with predominantly small waves and no rips; it is essentially a protected cove. It is a fantastic family-friendly, child-safe, beautiful beach, however parents cannot relax if dogs are roaming around uncontrolled.
“Dog owners don’t always collect droppings and the beach often smells of pee in the popular use areas.”
The policy review attracted responses from nearly 300 people while on exhibition – more than half identified as dog owners.
The review explored whether the needs of the community and the more than 86,000 dogs that call Wollongong home were being met by the current system which includes 10 green-zoned off leash beach areas and six off leash dog parks.
During the debate, councillor Deidre Stuart proposed that both or either McCauleys and Fishermans beaches be removed as dog areas, but a majority voted it down citing the contradiction of the consultation results – which saw an 80 per cent positive reaction to McCauleys Beach being a green zone – with what had been heard earlier in the chamber.
“It matters a lot to people because our beaches and parks are our shared spaces. Dog owners deserve clear and workable rules and the broader community also, rightly, expects safety, environmental care and respect for public amenity,” Deputy Mayor Linda Campbell said.
“That consultation has to mean something. We can’t just change something for the sake of it. We’ve got to make decisions that are fair, grounded and capable of maintaining or developing some level of trust in our decision-making.”
“We can’t let ourselves be controlled in the chamber by a loud minority when we come here to represent the majority of people,” councillor Thomas Quinn said.
“I don’t think we should just base our decision off hundreds of submissions, I think we should listen to what people are telling us,” councillor Jess Whittaker said in favour of making the sites red zones.
It was also noted that Fishermans Beach was an orange zone, not a green zone, and that responsible pet owners should not be taking their pets off leash in these areas, raising further questions on compliance.
A proposed change to orange-zoned areas – which allow dogs on leash at certain times – aimed to simplify the system by having access times changed to between 9 am and 5 pm year-round, as opposed to the current seasonal changes.
However feedback against this led to the review being revised to keep the existing approach in place which is for access times in orange zones to be prior to 9 am and after 6 pm from the September school holidays to Anzac Day, in line with lifeguard and SLSC patrols, and prior to 9 am and after 4 pm for the remainder of the year.
More details about on and off leash areas are available on the Wollongong City Council website.
