Sunshine Coast locals protest Point Cartwright master plan

A local man is leading the campaign for dogs to remain on Point Cartwright, organising protests following the Sunshine Coast Council’s endorsement of the controversial Master Plan. See the action from the protest.

Passionate dog owners have vowed to continue their fight against a controversial tightening of restrictions at a popular Sunshine Coast dog beach, carrying out what they say is the first of many public protests.

Residents walked alongside their four-legged friends on Saturday, demanding the council keep the current laws regarding off-leash and dog-friendly areas as they are.

The protest was sparked by the Sunshine Coast Council’s endorsement of the Point Cartwright Reserve and La Balsa Park master plan at the ordinary meeting on August 24.

The master plan describes the Point Cartwright Reserve as a highly significant ecological area that provides habitats for endangered loggerhead turtles and threatened shorebirds.

Implementing the plan would mean dogs would no longer be allowed at the north-facing beach or the rocky foreshore, leaving The Pocket as the only place dogs could be off-leash.

Cameron McConaghy at the Dogs Matter protest on Saturday, September 2.

Protest organiser Cameron McConaghy said he started the group Dogs Matter after he felt the council had failed to listen to the community before endorsing the master plan.

“The walks are to spread awareness of what’s happening. The reason for the group’s creation is to build a large gathering of people so we can collectively have a voice,” Mr McConaghy said.

“The lack of transparency in the master plan and these statements reminded me that there is no group that speaks on behalf of the dogs. Armed with an iPhone, I produced “Dogs Matter” and seven days later my complete package was ready.”

Mr McConaghy said the group was planning to protest the ban again in two weeks.

“The response was fantastic, 80 per cent of people do not know about the proposed restrictions, which is concerning,” Mr McConaghy said.

“I would call it an absolute success and we already have 200 members on day one.”

Proposed changes to Point Cartwright.

Councillor Joe Natoli, who was among those who endorsed the master plan, said the decision was not easy but something needed to be done to protect the natural environment.

“It is such a divisive issue because it toys and pulls on emotional strings. We as a community have enjoyed something and yet we have great obligation to recognise the impact of the human population on our natural environment,” Mr Natoli said.

“We have one part of our community that have enjoyed this area and had that ability to be able to do what they love and we’ve got other members of our community that feel strongly about having the ability to be able to go there.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast locals protest Point Cartwright master plan