Gold Coast dog beaches: the shock feedback from owners about

Council has announced it will not be expanding the number of dog beaches on the Gold Coast after consultation with residents threw up a surprising result.

DESPITE the Gold Coast having Queensland’s second largest dog population, the number of off leash areas on its beaches will not be expanded.

The reason is the shock findings released today from community consultation undertaken by the council during March and April on an animal control register.

Only 47 valid submissions were received, and support for more off-leash beach areas gained feedback from just nine dog owners.

The Coast has about 195,580 households with an estimated 106,786 dogs with the city providing 126 off-leash parks. Only Brisbane has more dogs with 207,892 and 120 areas.

Dogs on a Gold Coast beach off leash area. Picture Mike Batterham.

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Lifestyle and Community Committee chair Hermann Vorster said the city had signage on parks but the mapping provided by the new animal control register provided an added guide.

“To be honest I was quite surprised about how little feedback we received. We only received a handful of submissions for something that was extensively advertised,” Cr Vorster said.

“I think that shows that people are very happy with the number of parks and where they are located across the Gold Coast.”

Cr Vorster said he thought more people would have wanted extra dog beaches and was surprised only nine submissions were forwarded arguing for added foreshore areas.

“I think that shows that the spots where we have these off leash beach areas are favourites and people aren’t prepared to move,” he said.

Cr Vorster said he visited the Spit on the weekend which was full of dogs and “people seemed happy with the space that they had”.

Councillor Hermann Vorster supports tougher dog laws. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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He said council did not receive a compelling case to expand beyond The Spit and Palm Beach as off leash areas for dogs.

“Where residents did make common sense comments we’ve now have tweaked areas to make sure we are meeting community expectations around safety and amenity and capacity,” he said.

Council officers after an investigation found the Coast compared to other cities in Queensland has the highest ratio of off leash areas per household and per dog.

Asked about his reaction to a recent incident in which the Mayor’s American bulldog attacked a schnauzer, Cr Vorster indicated he was not retreating on his announcement of a crackdown on aggressive dogs.

“I’m one hundred per cent unequivocal about this – repeat offenders should be dealt with more severely. My push targets those who are walking their dogs irresponsibly,” he said.

Tom Tate and his dog after it escaped from his home.

“I haven’t spoken to the Mayor at all about his incident. But reports suggest that it was an escape, the escape isn’t the impetus behind my push.

“My push concerns people who deliberately flout the laws rather than those who accidentally have their animal escape.”

Cr Vorster said city officers had highlighted to him the need for certain State Government laws to be changed. He has not worked out a figure on fines, rather supported penalty points being “equal or more severe than the highest available in Queensland”.