Bayside residents plea for an off-leash dog beach is denied by Brisbane City Council

ANY off-leash dog play at this popular Brisbane beach has been denied with Brisbane City Council slamming resident pleas for an area to exercise their pets.

There will be no off-leash dog park plans for the bayside any time soon. Picture: Renae Droop

A DOG off-leash beach at Manly is unlikely to appear any time soon as environmental concerns and state verse council turf issues muddy the water.

A petition requesting the council establish such a beach has been denied.

Brisbane Parks, Sustainability and Wildlife chairman Councillor David McLachlan said the land was part of Moreton Bay Marine Park, habitat for migratory shorebirds, protected by the international Ramsar Convention and owned by the state.

“As the land owner and the owner of the legislation relating to the Moreton Bay Marine Park they have the right of refusal or approval of this proposal,” he said.

Cr McLachlan advised Cr Cumming to direct his pleas to the State Government.

Cr Cumming said while the shorebirds were “a relevant factor” the council had simply put dog beaches into the “too hard basket”.

“They’ve looked into what would be involved, they haven’t taken any steps at all,” he said.

“You have to cater for the whole community, you need to be fair and equitable to everyone in the community: give everyone a go.”

State member for Lytton Joan Pease said an off-leash beach was not impossible, there were some in neighbouring Redland City, but it needed careful thought.

“We love the idea of our dogs being able to have a swim, but we also love to brag about having birds that travel so far and we don’t want to disturb them,” she said.

Dog-owner Angela Shaw, who has previously advocated for a dog beach at Davenport Drive the council and the state should negotiate to find the “balance point” between protecting wildlife and providing amenity to residents.

“I think in regards to protecting habitat, it’s unrealistic to protect everything because people are going to break the rules,” she said.

“I don’t want to see a degradation of the environment, because that deserved to be protected. So a balanced approach would be useful.”

Brisbane City Council is cracking down on dogs off leash in the bayside. Angela Shaw was warned by a council officer after she was exercising her dog off leash along Davenport Drive at Manly.