Irresponsible pet owners blamed for move to shut off part of Yeppoon Main Beach to dogs

Dog handlers argue full beach access is crucial for community wellbeing, tourism, and local businesses but councillors point to other factors.

People walking dogs along Yeppoon Main Beach will need to take a 400 metre detour onto a footpath when new laws come into play. ea. Picture: Jerad Williams

A 400m section of Yeppoon Main Beach is set to become a dog-free zone after Livingstone Shire councillors rejected a citizen petition to keep the popular pet-walking area open.

Council made the decision at a committee meeting on Tuesday, February 4 following spirited debate about the benefits and negatives associated with walking dogs along a beach often busy with people swimming, sun baking, playing sports and flying kites, among other things.

Under the proposed changes to the local laws act, the dog-prohibited area will extend from the Yeppoon Surf Life Saving club ramp to the Keppel Bay Sailing Club ramp.

This footpath at Yeppoon Main Beach will see more use from dog walkers after a proposed beach ban comes into effect.

The petition from Ken Purnell, Susan Monti and Marijke Boon had asked for dogs’ handlers to still use the entire Main Beach between 4pm and 8am but under council’s proposed ban, they will have to leave the sand and use the adjacent foreshore footpath area to walk between the clubs.

Cr Pat Eastwood said the dog-free area was only a fraction of sand in a shire blessed many kilometres of beaches still free for dog walking.

“We’re talking about closing a small area where people can feel safe, because not everybody loves dogs,” he said.

“Some people are scared of dogs. (But) if we can keep people safe, that’s a brilliant thing. (It’s just) one short piece of sand.”

Yeppoon Surf Lifesaving Club.

Cr Wade Rothery said the ban would assist surf lifesavers in their important work in the flagged patrolled area.

“We are recommending people swim there so we don’t want people being intimidated by dogs,” he said.

Cr Rhodes Watson said he didn’t have a problem with dogs on the beach between 4pm to 8am.

“I was going to the beach with my dog on Friday night to have dinner with him, but I can’t (under the new law),” he said.

“I don’t agree with that. Things have changed since Covid, dogs are now family, not just a pet.”

He said the small number of irresponsible dog owners who didn’t bother to control or train their pets were the real problem.

“Most do the right thing but a few ruin it for the rest,” he said.

Yeppoon Main Beach was a hive of activity in 1968.

The petitioners had argued that the change would negatively impact residents and visitors who rely on these areas for recreational activities with their pets.

“Maintaining dog-friendly access is crucial for community wellbeing, tourism, and local businesses”, they said.

However, Cr Lance Warcon said the beach ban was a duty of care by the council as it responded to issues related to strong population growth.

Dogs roaming around off leashes are one of the issues council hopes the proposed beach ban will stop. Picture: Liam Kidston

Cr Andrea Friend said the change would help protect elderly and infirm people from the threat of aggressive dogs.

“(We have) the second longest coastline in Queensland (surely) we can allocate small areas that are dog free for those who don’t like pets running up to them and jumping on them,” she said.

“Give people the opportunity to enjoy the beach without animals.”

Mayor Adam Belot told councillors the ban would upset a lot of people, “but the mayor will get blamed, so you won’t have to worry about it”.

“That’s how it is,” he said.

“Our town is changing, there is no doubt about that.”

Entrants in a Courier Mail Sungirl Quest at Yeppoon in the mid 1950s. One piece bathers, 23 different styles all with shoulder straps supported by 23 young ladies with smiling faces. Yeppoon Main Beach being a draw card for thousands, most of the visitors arriving by trains from Rockhampton up to five trains some Sundays. Largely undeveloped areas of Cooee Bay/Wreck Point and Rosslyn Bay appear in the background. Modern transport has opened up 18 kilometres of beaches attracting a wide spread of visitors.

He said the ban was consistent with what other councils have done “for good reason” but dog handlers would still have the option to go to other beaches, “you will never run out of room”.

Cr Belot said some people were “petrified of dogs” and this law gave them the opportunity to access the beach early in the morning or late in the evening without having to contend with the threat of aggressive dogs.

“This might not be the perfect solution now, but it’s a step towards trying to provide balance,” he said.

“I’m reminded that freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want, but the ability to do what you ought to do and I think we ought to do this because it’s the right balance.”

The decision has to be ratified at a full council meeting. No time frame was advised for when the proposed ban will be enforced as part of the council’s local laws review for animal management.

Originally published as Irresponsible pet owners blamed for move to shut off part of Yeppoon Main Beach to dogs