La Balsa Park dog lovers unite against council plans

Four-legged friends and their owners have taken to the streets in a bid to send a message to the council over its controversial plans for dogs at Point Cartwright.

Sunshine Coast pet owners at La Balsa Park.

Scores of dog lovers took to the turf to make clear their views that pooch lovers of the region deserve a rethink from the Sunshine Coast Council over a much-loved coastal hotspot.

The draft master plan for the Point Cartwright Reserve and La Balsa Park was recently released by the Sunshine Coast Council to outline how the natural environments would be cared for over the next two decades.

Included in the draft is a number of changes to the current dog restrictions in the areas around La Balsa Park and Point Cartwright.

The proposed changes would mean the only off-leash dog areas would be along the beach, meaning the rocky foreshore and north facing beach at Point Cartwright would be completely dog-free

Dozens of dog lovers took to La Balsa Park on Sunday, June 18, to make their views known.

La Balsa Bow Wows group co-ordinator Dr Vivienne Williams said the group had become “quite concerned” about the latest master plan proposal from the council.

John Brand and Vivienne Williams at the La Balsa Park.

“This is called a master plan, I think the master’s apprentice did it actually because they are excluding us from our current area of walking and putting us over to the ocean beach,” she said.

“That’s a major turtle area so it makes no sense to have dogs walking along there and one of the biggest concerns we have is walking dogs is a very important social aspect for mental health and wellbeing.

“There’s no access for anybody that has any disability, people who have dogs in prams, people who are on walkers, the access is non existent.”

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said late last week pet access was proposed to remain with pets on-leash at Point Cartwright and La Balsa Park, as well as the proposed off-leash beach area, in order to balance the needs of area.

Sunshine Coast pet owners at La Balsa Park.

“The draft master plan is a vision for the future that aims to guide the balance between the area‘s ongoing protection and management of precious cultural heritage, its unique ecology and environment, while meeting the needs of the community who visit and use this area,” the spokesman said.

Public submissions on the proposed plan close on Sunday, July 2.

Dr Williams said Sunday’s event was “not a protest” but an exercise to take the thermometer of locals in order to re-educate the council.

“It’s not about having a battle with them, they’re just not understanding the full ramifications of what they have designed and taxpayers have a right to say what they want and what they need,” she said.

Dr Williams said she had been invited to a meeting with council to go over a few issues and to report any further questions from the public.

John Brand said he hoped to see further moderation of the proposed plan, given the size of the Sunshine Coast and need for space for people to exercise.

“I suggested fencing or partial fencing to protect the flora and fauna of the reserve,” Mr Brand said.

“We always encourage our owners to remain quiet to limit the noise, to always pick up after their dogs so we’re an educative body for the council and they should look at us as a community ally.”