Bayside councillors vote against proposed beach restrictions for dogs
Bayside councillors have binned plans to tighten dog access on beaches, sparking cheers from residents at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Bayside councillors have blocked the proposed changes to tighten dog access on local beaches, sparking wild cheers from residents during a fiery council meeting on Tuesday night.
Deputy mayor Debbie Taylor-Haynes moved an alternative motion to keep the existing dog beach rules, instead pushing for better signage, community education and stronger advocacy around enforcement at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
She told the meeting the proposed crackdown on pooches was “inconsistent with data and community feedback and not backed by evidence”.
Cr Robert Irlicht said council had “failed to sign the area” and educate the public, while Mayor Hanna El Mouallem said council was creating more rules instead of enforcing existing ones.
“We need to see more patrols on the beaches,” he said.
All councillors except Cr Kylie McIntosh backed the move.
The rejected plan, outlined in the council’s draft Domestic Animal Management Plan, would have introduced sweeping new restrictions across Beaumaris foreshore.
Dogs would have been banned at all times over summer from the disabled ramp at the southern end of the Beaumaris Yacht Club car park through to the Beaumaris Life Saving Club.
From the Life Saving Club to Dalgetty Rd, dogs would have been barred in summer and stripped of off-leash access in winter.
Further south, between Dalgetty Rd and the Sea Scouts boat ramp, summer bans would also have applied.
It comes after an online petition — signed by thousands of residents and submitted to the council to consider — slammed the proposed changes.
The campaign argued beaches and parks were essential for dogs to exercise and socialise, and dog-friendly zones are a key part of daily life in the area.
Resident Mark Clair, who has been taking his dogs to the beach for more than 28 years, said he was disappointed to see the proposed changes.
“There’s a beautiful little community down there of dog walkers. We all meet every morning and every afternoon. And we really care for that stretch of beach. We keep it very, very clean,” he said.
