Tweed Council’s attempt to control dog owners has gone off the leash with community members declaring what they want

AFTER council plans to reduce dog-friendly spots in Tweed were scrapped following angry complaints from locals, this pet advocacy group believes they have the answer to keeping both beach goers — and pet owners — happy.

Pet owners from Casuarina want Tweed Shire Council to introduce a Shared Beach policy opening up the beaches for dogs to run free in the morning and afternoon.

DOG owners in the Tweed are demanding council unleash their pets on the shire’s 37km of coastline.

The proposed policy by Tweed pet advocacy group Paws for a Cause is to make all beaches off leash for four hours a day.

Paws for a Cause started its campaign after council announced a plan in July to reduce off-leash beach areas by 15 per cent.

NEVER MISS A MINUTE WITH THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN APP

Councillor James Owen said pet owners had been more responsible after these signs were painted at Casuarina. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The proposed changes were so ludicrous that people aren’t taking the current rules seriously now,” said Paws for a Cause supporter Liz Drury.

“Now you see dogs off leash all of the time.

“A shared beach policy is the most sensible alternative, you know when you can go there.”

Tweed Shire Council review of dog areas in public open space, Fingal Headland to Kingscliff North. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Paws for a Cause collected more than 650 signatures on its petition to bring in the shared beach policy following the release of council’s proposed policy.

Under the council’s proposed changes a total dog ban would be introduced from Fingal Headland to Kingscliff North, and a reduction in the off-leash zones from Cabarita to Hastings Point.

The changes were driven by community consultation from 2016 where just 1% of the 456 respondents said the main reason they used open spaces was to walk their dogs.

Once the proposed policy was released, dog owners flooded shire councillors with angry letters and emails.

Jacqui Fitzgibbons, Liz Drury, Chis Knudsen and Judy Parry are dog walkers at Casuarina and Salt and thought the council's proposed clampdown on off leash areas was crazy, limiting the number of off leash areas despite there being vast amounts of unused beachfront in the area. Picture: Jerad Williams

Councillors responded by scrapping the proposed plan and deciding to head back to public consultation.

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR PUP TO WOOYUNG BEACH

Paws for a Cause organiser Mark Grunwald said there was nothing better than self-interest to get people involved in local government.

“People are sitting up and taking notice now. They want the council to change their thinking on pet ownership,” he said.

Mr Grunwald said the council should not see dogs as the enemy.

“It is old fashioned thinking,” he said.

Liz Drury and other dog walkers at Casuarina and Salt thought the council's proposed clampdown on off leash areas were crazy. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Tweed has a high dog ownership ratio where the dog is part of your family.

“We treat them like our children rightly or wrongly.”

The shared beach policy has been adopted by nine councils in the eastern seaboard of Australia and a number of councils in New Zealand.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

Under the policy, off leash would be from 6am-8am and 4pm-6pm with a strict code of

conduct.

Mr Grunwald said the code of conduct would include not allowing dogs to run or jump on people, trample sandcastles, chase things that haven’t been thrown, approach a dog that is on a lead, roam in the dunes or the flags.

The group is asking the council for a 12 month trial at the Casuarina and Salt area.

Dog attacks have become an increasing problem in the Tweed Shire over the past few years, in 2016 there were 56 dog attacks and in 2017 there were 91.

Council staff are preparing the workshop materials and information on the number of dog attacks there have been and people who have been fined for having their dogs off leash in prohibited areas.

The workshop has been scheduled for September 27.

Tweed dog attacks

2016 — 56

2017 — 91

Tweed and Gold Coast off leash beach areas

Palm Beach South

Biggera Waters Beach

Tallebudgera Beach

Fingal Headland to Kingscliff North

Kingscliff to Casuarina

Cabarita to Hastings Point

Pottsville South to Wooyung National Park

Comments on ways to improve off leash areas

Enforce dogs off lead 5

Ban dogs on beaches, parks and in public 6

Provide addition off leash areas 3

More off leash dog areas 2

Provide fenced dog parks 4

Improve signage 4

Larger areas for dogs 2

Fears facing Tweed residents in open spaces

Crime or threatening behaviour 86

Poor lighting 48

Not enough people around 46

Natural annoyances e.g. ants and weeds 26

Poorly maintained facilities or open space 25

Safety concerns about dogs 14

Unfamiliar surroundings 10

Lack of shade 4

Homelessness 3