Northern Beaches Council approve controversial Station Beach dog trial
It has been a proposal that has divided the peninsula. But after a 15-year campaign, there will now be an off-leash dog trial at Station Beach after Northern Beaches Council voted for it to go ahead.
Manly
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There were cheers and tears as council approved plans for an off-leash dog beach following a 15 year campaign.
The Northern Beaches Council chamber was packed as councillors debated the trial for Station Beach, which is on the Pittwater side of Palm Beach, for nearly an hour.
Passionate speeches were given by the two main lobby groups — Pittwater Unleashed and Protect Palm Beach — before councillors voted in favour of the 12-month trial by 12 votes to two.
Mitch Geddes, from the Pittwater Unleashed group, said it was a win “for the broader community”.
“We were confident that after such a detailed assessment by the staff. There wouldn’t have been such a strong recommendation if there were any legitimate environmental concerns.
“The councillors showed a great awareness of the issues, and elected to vote in support of this modest proposal.”
But Richard Kovacs, from opposition group Protect Palm Beach, said it was now “game over” for what he described as the “one of the most environmentally sensitive beaches in Pittwater”.
“What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind? My children are sitting behind me at the moment. They, the next generation, expect us to leave the environment clean and undamaged … If we lose it we will not get it back.”
A number of councillors spoke, explaining the reasoning behind their personal decision to the 200 plus gathered in the public gallery.
“Everything council does is a process,” Cr Alex McTaggart said. “This process has been long and arduous … it has been 15 years and now is the time to face the issue.
“This trial is supported by the Palm Beach Association. They are there pre-eminent community group, they’ve been in operation for over 100 years … and they represent a significant number of Palm Beach residents and I can do no more than ask the community groups for their opinion on various matters … So I recommend councillors start a trial.”
Cr Sue Heinz, an ex-dog owner, said she had struggled coming to her decision but had decided to vote against the trial.
“As much as we love our dogs we also love our environment,” she said.
“We have to absolutely look after environmentally sensitive areas we have. I don’t know much about seabeds but if I’m told this is a special group of meadows that we should be protecting then I do feel we should be protecting those meadows. I just find this hard to reconcile.”
Cr Rory Amon said he took on board all feedback and used his wider world view to come to his decision.
“This is a process that begun too long ago in 2004 when I was in Year 9 in high school and in that time dogs have been born and have died whilst this process has been held up,” he said.
“Councillors are elected to represent you and having reviewed the community feedback there were 3524 submissions of which 89 per cent supported the trial to go ahead.
“In those circumstances I cannot see any reason to oppose the trial especially given the weight of material we have been given showing the minimal risk to the seagrass.”
Just Cr Heinz and Cr Natalie Warren voted against the proposal with Cr Roslyn Harrison absent.
Council will now apply for a licence to run the trial.
As previously reported the off-leash zone will be from the southern edge of the Station Beach wharf to approximately 110 metres north of the Beach Rd entry.
Dogs allowed off-leash from 4pm to 10.30am Monday to Sunday and 5.30pm to 10.30am Monday to Friday.
Council officers predict it will cost $45,000 for environmental monitoring across the year, $1500 for the three buoys, $6000 for new signs and $2800 for two dog bag dispensers.