Dog owners face major beach shake-up as council locks in 20-year plan.

Dog owners face sweeping new beach bans across the Sunshine Coast with the council vowing to build 22 off-leash parks to compensate for the losses.

Dog owners will face new restrictions in area like Moffat Beach in Caloundra. FILE PHOTO

Sunshine Coast Council has signalled dog owners face further restrictions after adopting a radical 20-year plan to govern access to beaches and protect key coastlines.

But the council has also promised to develop new off-leash dog parks across the region.

Under the plan adopted by the council on Thursday, dogs will be banned from rocky foreshores at Point Perry, Point Arkwright, Point Cartwright, Moffat Headland and Caloundra Headland.

The move follows controversial changes at Pt Cartwright last year with the area facing a total ban from July next year.

The shake-up for the region’s 54,000 dogs, which are expected to grow in number to 80,000 in the next 20 years, follows more than 2300 submissions from the public and four petitions.

Dog lovers at Stumers Creek north Coolum have had a major win with only minor changes to require dogs to stay on their leads 10m from east of the carpark entry to the creek.

At Shelly Beach, there will be minor changes with the reinstatement of 150m of sandy beach at northern end of the beach for seasonal, timed off-leash access.

Dog owners will face further restrictions in areas like the Maroochy North Shore to protect migratory shorebirds.

At Currimundi Lake, the report argued the conflict between picnickers, swimmers, and dogs had become too great with dogs to be banned from crossing the lake mouth.

However, the off-leash area to the south would remain, with a new 50m buffer added to protect the flagged bathing reserve at Dicky Beach.

At Maroochy North Shore near Mudjimba, to protect migratory shorebirds, a seasonal closure was introduced for a 500m stretch of beach between October and April.

The council says there is growing pressure on areas like Moffat Headland at Caloundra. Picture Lachie Millard

To compensate for this loss, a new off-leash area was proposed for Mudjimba Beach South.

At Currimundi/Ballinger Beach there will be an adjustment to the southern off-leash boundary to increase off-leash provision for an additional 50m south of the beach access (261) ramp, aligning with the Dicky Beach bathing reserve.

The off-leash provision from Robe St (256) to Gothic Parade (255) at Currimundi beach will also be retained.

At Alexandra Headland, changes will prohibit dog access north of beach access 164, the report said.

The plan proposes the establishment of 22 new dog off-leash park facilities, upgrades to eight existing sites and the installation of improved signage across the region.

Terry Landsberg was the only councillor to vote against the new dog restrictions.

The plan also introduces a new dog off-leash beach area and the provision of beach wash-down showers.

Once implemented the total number of dog parks and beach sites available for public use will increase to 69.

During a debate spanning more than an hour, councillors overwhelmingly endorsed the plan, which they said responded to the wishes of dog owners, while maintaining the need to protect the sensitive environment areas and ensure public safety.

They pointed out it would give access to 34.3km of council-managed coastline – 73 per cent of the region’s total 47.1km of beaches.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli (right) says the council has listened to residents and struck a good balance.

In comparison, Noosa had 9km, Moreton Bay 8.5km while the off-leash area on the Gold Coast was just 3km.

Councillor Terry Landsberg was only one to speak out against the plan, questioning where dog owners who used areas like Moffat Beach and Pt Cartwright would go.

“I have a lot of concerns about this report,’’ Mr Landsberg said, describing it as a “legacy report of the previous council” based on little real data.

He said areas like Moffat Beach were already well self-regulated, while he said as a longtime surfer of the area the number of shorebirds he could “count on one hand”.

“We are moving too quickly. We are banning dogs from significant (areas).

“With regards to the impact to the environment, I want to see data and I don’t see that.’’

The council heard the new dog parks, which are still be acquired and funded, would be a minimum of three hectares in size, and include waterplay and washdown facilities, carparking, shelters and lights.

Dogs exercising at Stumers Creek on the Sunshine Coast. Photo Lachie Millard

Councillor Joe Natoli, who faced fire over his support of the Pt Cartwright bans, said the council plan had got the balance right in “fairness and safety”.

“We have thousands of residents and visitors who want to enjoy (areas) without dogs,’’ he said.

He said while dogs were part of many families, they could lead to erosion, environment disturbances, impacts on shore birds and nesting turtles.

“This plan is not about choosing one group over another.’’

“This is about balance between recreation and conservation.’’

The council heard there would be more restrictions in the future, including bans on dogs in some environmental reserves.

Councillor Christian Dickson who spoke out against changes at Pt Cartwright, said his views had changed somewhat since becoming a dad with him concerned about offleash dogs at parks near children.

He said while most people did the right thing, a minority spoiled it for others.

Mr Dickson said the council needed to ‘do better’ with the provision of dog parks, given the example of a small dog park in the Harmony estate at Palmview.

A surfer from Coolum takes his rescue dog for a run every day at Stumers Creek.

Councillor David Law said if the council did not do more to protect the environment in the face of rapid population growth, there was a real possibility of the extinction of animals that people loved.

“What we need to do is protect our special places so we can enjoy all of our animals into the future,” he said.

But he said the plan was a good compromise which he hoped would limit the need for a big stick approach.

“We do not need to have enforcement and $800 fines,” Mr Law said.

Mayor Rosanna Natoli urged councillors to support the plan, which would require changes to a local law that would be made next year.

Ms Natoli said the council and staff had listened to “thousands” of submissions while her office had responded to more than 150 emails to herself on the issue.

“They were robust to say the least. It is a very emotive topic,” she said.

“What happened there is we listened to our community.

“This report is balanced. It is fair.

“It is a reflection of our future needs, our current needs.”

Councillor Maria Suarez, who moved for the approval of the plan, reminded councillors the plan was not just about beaches but the sustainability of the whole region.

“This decision is not about one beach. It is a regional plan,” she said.

“We face population growth. We face pressures on our public spaces.

“This plan is not based on anecdotes or opinions. It is evidence based.”

Every councillor voted in favour, with Cr Landsberg the only one to oppose the changes.