New map reveal: Dog ban across Coast in bid to protect koala population
Shock new mapping shows dogs will be banned from most of the green behind the gold in the Gold Coast hinterland in a bid to protect koalas.
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NEW mapping shows dogs will be banned from most of the green behind the gold in the Gold Coast hinterland in a bid to protect koalas.
The council is seeking responses from residents for feedback to the mapping which will also include at least 13 new off-leash dog areas across the city.
There are 60,000 registered dogs on the Coast.
Councillors on Facebook have begun outlining the community consultation, explaining the state’s mapping of areas of environmental significance had affected its animal control register.
“Division 9 and other hinterland areas are impacted and several areas where dogs were previously allowed on lead are now proposed to prohibit dogs,” Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer told the Bulletin.
“Some off-leash areas are changed in the draft maps, for a variety of reasons including state mapping, other sport activities using the open space and fencing changes to existing off-leash areas.”
Cr Tozer admitted dog owners were “very passionate about having places to walk and play with their pets” and some had become “agitated” about having enough time to comment.
“Importantly, we’re talking to the media and inviting community feedback so everyone can share their views.”
The maps show entire conservation areas will be off limits to dogs, even when owners have their pets on leashes.
The mapping appears complicated in parts with a combination of either dog bans or on-leash areas drawn up in routes around the edge of suburban streets.
Asked if the community input would make much difference, and whether it would be difficult to change boundaries given the presence of koalas, Cr Tozer admitted it would be a challenge.
“The state laws are pretty strict when it comes to koala conservation and protection, but council will certainly consider community views when it comes to our reserve areas being places to walk dogs on-lead,” he said.
“I think it would be fair to say that where koala habitat exists, off-leash areas for dogs will be very limited.”
At Wednesday’s full council meeting, councillors opposed a petition calling for an off-leash dog area at Nobby Beach.
Area councillor Pauline Young said the city had 128 off-leash areas and the beach area was patrolled and “heavily utilised by the community”.
But Palm Beach and Burleigh-based councillor Daphne McDonald, who has two of the city’s four off-leash dog areas on the waterfront, wants a wider review.
Given the pressure on those areas, the complaints about dog attacks, council needs to consider “an independent investigation into dog off lead areas” and how they could be better policed.
Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster told colleagues: “We have a fundamental issue of policing animal behaviour in the city.”
He said city officers could not compel dog owners to identify themselves if an offence occurred, and they had to call police.
The council had written to the state government “pleading for change”, but the requests were refused.
The new off-leash areas proposed by council include:
• Sears Road Reserve, Yatala
• Aquila Reserve, Pimpama
• Lumeah Avenue Reserve, Pimpama
• Gainsborough Parklands, Pimpama
• Daylesford Park, Ormeau
• Gawain Drive Reserve, Ormeau
• Diamond Sands Reserve, Upper Coomera
• Picnic Creek Reserve, Coomera
• Apple Berry Park, Coomera
• Driftwood Park, Parkwood
• Xenia Park, Helensvale
• Skyline Terrace Reserve, Burleigh Heads
• Currumbin Hills Reserve, Currumbin Waters
The area where there will be proposed change:
• Boulevard Park, Parkwood, proposed to become on-leash area instead due to environmental frequency sensitivity. Dogs will not be banned.
Go to gchaveyoursay.com.au to comment.
COAST SUBURBS WITH MOST DANGEROUS DOGS
ALMOST 200 dogs have been declared as high-risk on the Gold Coast in the past two years — and five suburbs are responsible for a quarter of them.
The latest data from the Gold Coast City Council shows 106 dogs were deemed dangerous, and another 75 menacing, in the tourist hotspot local government area since mid-2018.
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Coomera and Labrador (eight dangerous dogs each) and Southport and Nerang (both six) had the most dangerous dogs during that period.
The most menacing dogs lived in Ashmore and Elanora.
In the year to July 2019, 80 dogs were declared high-risk by council. It rose to 87 the next year, but only 14 have so far been declared dangerous or menacing in 2020.
A man died from a suspected heart attack in Southport in February last year after a neighbourhood dispute over an attack on his wife by a menacing dog.
A staffordshire bull terrier, which was a council-declared dangerous dog, had bitten the woman in her on the leg before her husband aged in his 60s, who had a heart condition, suffered a heart attack.
If a dog is declared a dangerous or menacing, owners are required to display signage on their fence warning people of the dog. The animal also must be microchipped, wear identification tags, be kept in an enclosure with a displayed sign, be kept under control, desexed and wear a muzzle in public.
Gold Coast legal stalwart Chris Nyst said significant penalties could be incurred by those keeping dangerous or menacing dogs without adhering to council’s rules.
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He said dog owners could appeal declarations, which in some cases could order the dog to be put down.
After unsuccessfully lobbying the state government to amend dangerous dog laws to allow council to fine owners of pets involved in attacks, the local government committee is taking their fight statewide, lobbying other councils to get on board with the proposal.
“A declaration is an important tool to ensure those with anti-social dogs take active steps to protect the community,” Council lifestyle and community chair Hermann Vorster said.
“Council strongly believes we need a deterrent of very hefty fines because we don’t want to see other animals or lives at risks, particularly because dogs are being walked in parks with playgrounds.”
Cr Vorster said the new proposal will be taken to the Local Government Association Queensland conference in late October, with the hope of lobbying the newly elected state government to amend animal management laws to give councils more powers.
“If you can prevent a child or an animal or anyone being attacked or killed, the fines should be big enough to stop attacks happening all together,” he said.
Upper Coomera sales manager Peter Bates said his 15-year-old cat Cola was last week attacked by what was believed to be a declared dangerous bull arab.
He claimed the same dog attacked another beloved family pet last year — Coco — who had to be put down.
“This dog just came on to our property and our cat was sitting at the front door and it attacked our cat,” Mr Bates said.
“Neighbours have also said it attacked a small dog not long ago.
“It’s not the dog’s fault, it’s the owners. We actually own a dog that is the same breed and it is the most placid dog.”
Mr Bates backed the proposal to fine dog owners whose animals attack family pets or people.
“It’s about how you raise a dog,” he said.
“Being a responsible dog owner is not hard, it’s just some people don’t care and I absolutely think there should be some more repercussions.”
A council spokeswoman said the matter is currently under investigation.
-ALEXANDRIA UTTING
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