Off-leash dog area could be introduced at Edithvale Beach
DOGS will be given free reign on an Edithvale beach under a plan to introduce a permanent leash-free area.
South East
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DOGS will be given free reign on an Edithvale beach under a plan to introduce a permanent leash-free area.
Kingston Council is looking at making the sand between Somme Lane and Bristol Ave a pooch friendly playground by scrapping existing restrictions.
Currently dogs are required to be on a lead when on the sand between 11am and 3pm from April 1 to October 31.
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The rest of the year they are allowed off-lead on the sand only between sunrise and 10am.
There is already a designated dog beach in Mentone with canines allowed to roam free on the beach between Charman Rd and Plummer Rd.
There are 8878 registered dogs in south ward representing 42 per cent of the 21,176 dogs registered dogs in Kingston.
At a May 28 meeting Cr David Eden said residents had told south ward councillors that it was difficult to find leash-free places for their dogs.
“One of the places people love to take their dogs is the beach because they like to take them into the water,” Cr Eden said.
“There’s quite a few owners with dogs who are a little bit old with arthritis and they take them into the water. They don’t want to just sit at a park because there’s not the same benefit there.”
He said the council was keen to hear feedback about the proposal.
“That may be with respect to the exact location, it may be how it’s run,” Cr Eden said.
Cr Georgina Oxley agreed saying the council wasn’t “wedded” to the Edithvale location.
Council officers reported on three options for a leash free breach including Carrum, Chelsea and Edithbale.
They recommended Carrum — starting at Osprey Lane and extending 250m north — because it was “less likely to present conflicts between dogs offleash and other beach users”.
But Cr Eden said Carrum was undergoing significant development and would “only get busier”.
He also wanted a spot that residents in Aspendale Gardens, Waterways, Edithvale and Chelsea residents could reach “in a reasonable amount of time”.
Councillors, with the exception of Rosemary West, voted in favour of advertising the plan and surveying residents.