Who let the dogs out? Henley Beach coast path now an on-leash area
Dog walkers will have to put their dogs on a lead along the popular Henley Beach coast path after a rule change. Do you support the new law?
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Dogs will have to be put on the leash at a popular beachside walking trail after a bylaw loophole was closed.
Charles Sturt Council agreed on Monday night that canines will no longer be able to roam free on part of the coastal path along Henley Beach, frequented by walkers, runners and cyclists.
The council already requires dogs to be on a lead at other sections of the path and in Henley Square at all times.
But the stretch of trail between Marlborough St and Grange Rd was not given any strict definition under the council’s bylaws when it was built, meaning it was technically a “public park” which gives no restriction on dogs.
According to a staff report to Charles Sturt councillors, the incongruent bylaws had created “confusion with dog owners and non-dog owners alike”.
“This has caused some community concern as well as a lack of clarity and continuity
with the surrounding spaces,” the report read.
Despite dogs being allowed off their leads, they were required to be kept under “effective control”.
Community consultation on the move, however, found locals were evenly split on the idea of extending the on-leash rule.
A survey of 1182 people by Charles Sturt Council found 48.31 per cent favoured dogs being on leads at all times, while 47.29 per cent wanted to keep the off-leash area.
Only 4.4 per cent were undecided.
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Dog walker Emma Careek, of Fulham Gardens, who was using the path on Tuesday, said she would ordinarily keep her dog, Otto, on the lead due to the presence of other dogs.
“I thought the path was included in those restrictions as well and that dogs had to be on the lead up here anyway,” Ms Careek said.
“Most people tend to be pretty good.
“I think it’s only people who tend to know their dogs are pretty reliable take their dogs off the lead anyway.”