Dogs set to be banned from popular beach at Point Cartwright

Emotions were high as Sunshine Coast councillors voted to remove a “unique” off-leash dog area at Point Cartwright, but residents have one more chance to have their say on the issue.

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Dogs could be banned from a popular beach at Point Cartwright following a vote by Sunshine Coast Council, despite public opposition to the plan.

The decision comes as the council endorsed the Point Cartwright Reserve and La Balsa Park Master Plan in an emotionally-charged Ordinary Meeting on Thursday, August 24.

The plan to remove the northern dog off-leash area on the beach and rocky foreshore at the Point Cartwright Reserve was a key concern of the broader master plan which seeks to “guide the future use and management of the coastal area.”

Despite the endorsement of the master plan, the changes to off-leash dog access will now be subject to a local law amendment process which the community will be able to have a say on later this year.

The master plan highlighted the importance of protecting the Point Cartwright Reserve – deemed a high ecological significant area that provides a nesting habitat for endangered loggerhead turtles and haven for threatened migratory shorebirds that travel up to 15,000km to visit.

When the proposed removal of the dog off-leash area was unveiled, it resulted in a strong reaction from the community, with several petitions tabled before the council at the meeting.

The proposed changes to dog-access at Point Cartwright was endorsed by Sunshine Coast Council. Picture: Council Report

A Sunshine Coast Council officer told councillors during the meeting that the measure intends to protect the environmentally significant area, despite being zoned as being suitable for recreational purposes.

“The northern beach was a point of robust discussion and was revisited several times,” the council officer said.

“It was assessed into smaller areas to really test what was acceptable, however, neither off leash or on leash was considered acceptable.”

“The northern beach is a valued habitat for the shorebirds both resident and migratory and is mapped by the State Government as high ecological significant wetlands.

“Dogs are measured as having a very high impact to this area.”

A dog owner himself, divisional councillor Joe Natoli said it was an incredibly difficult decision to make.

“It is such a divisive issue because it toys and pulls on emotional strings that we as a community have enjoyed something and yet we have great obligation to recognise the impact of 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.

“It‘s not easy and I understand that this is an incredibly difficult decision that Council has to make.”

Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said Council needed to balance the needs of the community.

Speaking in favour of the motion, councillor David Law highlighted the importance of protecting the environment in the area, suggesting that the master plan does not go far enough.

“It’s crucial to recognise the very sensitive environmental nature of the headlands and the importance that it has for our environment and for our ecology,” Mr Law said.

“My concern is that if we don‘t change what we’re doing, all of the things that we like in that area will cease to exist.

“On behalf of the environment, the threatened species, and vegetation, I‘ll be asking that we do a lot more.”

Councillor David Law believes more could be added to the Point Cartwright Reserve and La Balsa Park Master Plan to protect the environment in the area.

Councillor Christian Dickson said he couldn’t support the master plan, highlighting the uniqueness of dog access at Point Cartwright.

“It wasn‘t until I actually went out to Point Cartwright and La Balsa also that I got an appreciation of the uniqueness that it has,” Mr Dickson said.

“When I was out there this morning, I talked to everyone, I talked to people without dogs, I talked to runners, I talked to people with disabilities, I talked to carers, I talked to a young fellow who was playing guitar.

“Sure there’s a lot of other beaches and dog parks, but we don’t have anything else like this.

“If this was an election, the dogs would be winning.

“I don‘t want to look back and see all the things I’ve talked about being destroyed if I endorsed the master plan here.”

Councillor Christian Dickson was supportive of retaining off-leash dog access in the northern section of Point Cartwright.

The motion was moved by Mr Natoli, seconded by Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski and supported by all councillors, barring Mr Dickson and councillors Peter Cox and Ted Hungerford.

The changes to the off-leash dog area will be subject to a local law amendment process and community engagement later this year.

Originally published as Dogs set to be banned from popular beach at Point Cartwright