Sunshine Coast Council’s draft plan for popular dog beach slammed by locals

Dog lovers are again embroiled in a divisive debate, as the Sunshine Coast Council prepares to introduce a set of new restrictions to protect birds at a second beach after a controversial decision at Point Cartwright.

Dogs are set to be banned from accessing the northern beach at Point Cartwright. Picture: Supplied

Sunshine Coast dog lovers are once again embroiled in a divisive debate over beach access, as the council prepares to introduce a swathe of new restrictions to protect shorebirds.

The Sunshine Coast Council is welcoming community feedback regarding proposed changes to a popular dog beach, which could see the area closed to the public for seven months each year.

The Draft Shorebird Conservation Plan 2025-2030 details the council’s plan to enforce a number of regulations to the “high tide roost sites” for endangered shorebirds in the region over the next five years.

If the draft plan is approved the changes would restrict public access to the beach at the Maroochy North Shore between October and April each year.

Dogs are currently allowed off-leash on the ocean-side of the Maroochy North Shore beach, sparking concerns and outrage among regular dog walkers on social media.

Maroochy North Shore zoned as high tide roost site for shorebirds.

One commenter on a local community page said the shorebirds gathered at “other regions”.

“It must be a WIN WIN so both dogs and shorebirds are looked after. There are other regions the shorebird naturally gathers on such as Goat Island,” they said.

“This seems oddly familiar … Point Cartwright Part 2..,” another commenter wrote.

Another wrote there would still be plenty of beach available for dogs if the plans were approved.

“I use it often but I wasn’t too concerned with the tip area being closed for the shorebird. There’s plenty of beach to still walk the dog and having the track across to do a loop still makes a nice walk,” they said.

The plan would also restrict the public’s access to the Caloundra Bar, the northern tip of Bribie Island and Pumicestone Passage, for the seven-month period.

Councillor Taylor Bunnag said he was unable to offer any more information on the changes while the draft was still open for community consultation, but he encouraged the locals to share their thoughts.

“People need to have their say about what measures they are willing to take in response to protecting our shorebird population,” Cr Bunnag said.

The proposal comes after heated debate regarding the off-leash dog zones at Point Cartwright last year.

The Sunshine Coast Council ultimately voted late last year to completely ban off-leash dogs from La Balsa and Point Cartwright Reserve by mid-2025. 

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli previously promised to review the controversial decision, stating there was “possibility for a compromise”.

Ms Natoli and the Sunshine Coast Council have been contacted for comment.

Community feedback closes next Friday, November 15, with the final plan expected to go before the council for consideration early next year.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council’s draft plan for popular dog beach slammed by locals