Council to trial dogs off leash on northside beaches

Dogs may be allowed to run free along the foreshore at Brighton/Sandgate and Nudgee Beach next year, with Council planning a 12-month trial of dog off leash areas.

A dog off leash area will be trialled along the Brighton/Sandgate foreshore next year. Picture: Renee McKeown

BRISBANE City Council is planning a trial of dog off leash areas on north Brisbane beaches.

The 12-month trial will start in mid-2019 and include the foreshores along Brighton/Sandgate and Nudgee Beach. The southern beaches at Wynnum, Manly and Lota will also be involved.

The move follows years of petitions and requests to council as it is currently illegal to let dogs off leash on all Brisbane beaches.

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Crs Jared Cassidy (Deagon) and Adam Allan (Northgate) said the final details and guidelines still had to be worked out but the foreshore areas in front of Brighton Park and Nudgee Beach park may be ideal for the trial.

The area in front of Brighton Park may be the site for a dog off-leash trial next year, according to Cr Jared Cassidy.

Cr Cassidy said this issue had been discussed with dog owners, bird groups and residents over many years and he was “99 per cent sure” the trial would be held in the area in front of Brighton Park on the western side of the bridge.

“There are far too many people, children particularly, and wader bird rest sites on the Sandgate end of the foreshore so the Shorncliffe/Sandgate end was ruled out very early in discussions.

“How the trial will progress we don’t know yet.

“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will have to do an assessment of how many birds are there. There will be guidelines as the trial off-leash area couldn’t be put in an area where it would impact birds.”

Cr Cassidy said there could also be restrictions in terms of when the area could be used.

Dexter, of Brighton, is always on a lead when he takes his owners for a walk along the foreshore, but that may change next year during a Brisbane City Council trial of dog off leash areas. Picture: Renee McKeown

“It could be a straight 12 months trial with dogs off leash at any time of the day.

“There could be time restrictions. Currently (in a trial) at Scarborough it’s before 9am and after 4pm.

“Ours could be like that or particular months of the year, for example six months on and six months off for when the migratory birds are around.

“Domestic wader birds are there all the time. It’s the migratory ones that are the concern. They’re only here for our spring and summer, arriving August-September for six months.”

Cr Allan said the area in front of the Nudgee Beach foreshore park would be a good zone in terms of accessibility.

“I also think it has fewer mangroves and marine plants in that area and is least likely to be a key habitat for birds,” he said.

“I do believe whatever is finally decided will give us the best possible outcome in terms of migratory birds.

“I think it will be a prescribed zone like our land-based dog off leash areas where it’s effectively a zone for dogs off leash and with signage to let people know.”

A dog off leash area will be trialled on Nudgee Beach next year. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Cr Allan said the initiative would bring clarity in how dogs can be exercised along the foreshore.

“This is important because at the end of the day people are already walking dogs on the foreshore, and to have a specific zone and to have clear guidelines is a good outcome for everyone.

“If we limit dogs off leash to a specific area it will have a positive impact on bird life.”

Queensland Wader Study Group chairman David Edwards said, in principle, they were in favour of a trial “but it does depend on where the (dog off leash) areas will be”.

Mr Edwards said education and monitoring would need to be factored into any trial.

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Cr Cassidy said he had no concerns about the trial if it proceeded at Brighton Park or in an area that didn’t have an impact on birds and people.

“If it’s Brighton Park I’m quite comfortable with that. People will have a space to take their dogs off leash and people with kids and a passion about protecting wader birds on the foreshore can use the area where it’s more controlled.”

Council’s Environment, Parks and Sustainability Chairman David McLachlan said the proposed dog off leash areas would be well signed and owners could be hit with a $260 fine if they unleashed their pet outside the designated areas.