Charlie, Penny and Lily run free at a local beach. Dogs on beaches is a contentious topic. When Bass Coast councillors voted to trial a new time exclusion for dogs on Inverloch beaches this summer, the debate became red-hot. We hear from two corners of the debate via Jordan Crugnale and Inverloch resident and dog lover Hendrika T.
| By Jordan Crugnale I SEEM to have rung the town bell and everyone is now talking about dogs. The positive, negative and constructive feedback is plentiful and vocal. A resident called to say his son wants to get me kicked out of the council and his daughter thinks I have been really gutsy and should be commended. This is a very complex issue with so many different and often conflicting views. I am well aware of the social, physical and mental health benefits of owning a dog. I am equally aware that many people including families with young children have an issue with any dog presence, whether it is on a lead or not. This is a debate that needs to be had, openly and with maturity. For a few, it has got personal towards me and the issue at hand has morphed into other non-related grievances or agendas. Conversations and experiences have also been adjusted and moved far from the actual truth. The introduction of time restrictions is not some ground-breaking, world-first initiative of mine or the council’s. You only have to search “dog debate on beaches” on the internet to find it is an issue for so many coastal councils worldwide. It will never result in 100 per cent contentment for 100 per cent of people. It is about reaching some sort of time-share equilibrium on our beaches. It is about understanding and respecting the views and needs of everyone and accommodating them accordingly. Some people wants dogs on beaches all the time, some dog-owners are fine with time restrictions, as are some non-dog-owners. Some with dogs think they shouldn’t be on beaches anytime and some without dogs think there should be a more suitable designated area for dogs to walk and run at leisure at whatever time away from the main populated areas. Where do we start then? A trial. What went to the council vote in October was a proposal for a five-month trial with a report coming to the council in May 2014. For my part this has not been a “cattle prod” scenario set up to divide a community that prides itself on being just that … a community. I have not known Inverloch to be buzzing with one issue. So many people are talking about it and debating it among themselves in groups, shops, the vet clinic, newsagency, on the beach and at school pick up. Great. All the better for being open. All the opinions and options voiced are valid. And everyone is starting to listen and see other sides to the argument and the dilemma that it actually presents. How we navigate as a community around this issue sets us up well to discussing other internal and external challenges and discords that we will face as a community. In order to have a meaningful trial, we need to test all the possible scenarios – dogs off the leash, dogs on the leash, no dogs – and the length of the trial needs to cover the busy peak period and surrounding time to gauge who is doing what, where and when. Do we time-restrict just in the holiday periods? Do residents using the beach in warmer months want a bit of dog-free space? Are there specific areas where people and families congregate? Is it early or late in the evening? How can you gather this information with confidence if, say, you only have a one-month trial with no time restrictions in peak holiday time? Council staff will be on the beach during this trial collecting information and speaking to people. As I mentioned above, this will come back in a report to councillors in May 2014. Then we can dissect the information and adjust the parameters accordingly. More importantly, we can back the justification of such parameters with evidence. This is surely a positive for everyone. At my request, the domestic animal management advisory committee meeting has been rescheduled to early December so we can discuss the feedback we have received to date. This will include the current adopted time trial of 8am-8pm. I cannot pre-empt any decision at this stage or prior to the December 11 ordinary council meeting. I am trying to respond individually to all the letters. Please be patient and I hope this answers some of the questions that have been raised. Jordan Crugnale is councillor for Townsend Ward, which includes Inverloch. | By Henrika T. Despite a threatening sky about 150 local dogs and their people gathered at Inverloch Beach (Pensioners Point) on Thursday to protest against the extremely (in our view) drastic and sudden straight ruling of ... no dogs on Inverloch beaches from 8am-8pm all through the summer, from December 1 until May 2014. That is ... no dogs on any beaches at all. It appears these time restrictions were voted in by Bass Coast Shire Council at the October meeting without consultation with the domestic animal management advisory commitee. Hence the outrage and hence the gathering, with some 150 dogs and 200 people of all shapes and sizes gathered (happily, I must admit) on the beach that morning. All the dogs were on leashes and there was not one fight or disagreement, as far as I could see. They were just sooo pleased to be out with their owners and to meet old friends. I was there to show my disapproval at this ruling, a ruling with no – or little – community consultation, in my opinion and that of the other dog owners. Not in the best interest of our local pooches, either. People from Inverloch and surrounding small towns regularly come to our beaches to take themselves and their dogs for a walk, with multiple benefits for everyone:
Our two small dogs are perfectly happy to “hang out” at home, once they have had their morning walk. There is no such thing as a perfect world or, for that matter, a perfect beach. I for one believe that jetskis can be a hindrance to enjoying a lovely quiet beach day. They are noisy, smelly and dangerous as they often venture too close to the shore, where swimmers have to be on the alert. So we all have to compromise sometimes. My solution or suggestion to our “dog issue” is the following:
Thank you for listening. Hendrika T. is an Inverloch resident and dog lover |
COMMENTS
With regard to the recent debate on dog free beaches, I wonder why the Bass Coast Shire can’t make available a dog-friendly park? This park would need to be fenced for the safety of our dogs and allow interaction/socialisation off the leash, and even provide some agility items to stimulate our dogs. There are so many dog owners in this area all paying registration; can’t some of these funds be directed in this way? I have been to South Australia many times, and one park in particular was perfect for our dogs: it provided 5 acres of grass/concrete to explore, agility items made of predominantly concrete, but there were old car tyres used as well, a water supply, and a poo bag dispenser complete with bins to dispose of this waste. The vast majority of dog owners that walk their dogs are responsible. In my opinion, the beach should be available for everyone at any time. Dog droppings are not as bad as broken glass/syringes. I am curious to know where our dog registration monies go…
Michelle Graham
December 10, 2013
Apparently this new dog law is to make laws consistent across Bass Coast Shire. It really has nothing to do with reflecting the concerns of the community. Read the October council meeting minutes, Pages 51-58. The response to the survey indicates that the top five comment categories from non-dog owner respondents (Page 53) actually supported designated off-leash areas and dogs being on leads - nothing about dogs NOT being on beaches. Why is it not possible for Inverloch to retain its uniqueness and individuality and allow dogs on beaches on leads at any time? People then will continue not to turn at the roundabout and go to "The Island" but rather come to Inverloch because they can have their dog with them on the beach. This supports the local businesses and keeps Inverloch thriving.
Patricia Saultry
December 9, 2013
I for one wish to congratulate Cr Crugnale for her comprehensive letter to The Bass Coast Post. As she says it is a complex issue and her comments outline the many facets in a clear, instructive and open manner.
It was unfortunate that the shire council overlooked consulting with the domestic animal management advisory committee but by her report this oversight is to be addressed as it should.
Nevertheless I am very much in support of the comments put forward by Henrika T. and trust the Bass Coast Shire will seriously consider these recommendations. They are practical, constructive and wise.
Bob Middleton, Jeetho West
December 8, 2013
I think most people will be offended by Cr Crugnale’s remark, “I seem to have rung the town bell and everyone is now talking about dogs”. People are not just talking about dogs they are asking, “Why after all these years are we no longer to walk along the water’s edge with our dog on a lead?” Cr Crugnale and the council have been asked this question on numerous occasions by me and several others and there is no answer coming forth.
Cr Crugnale also states the debate needs to be had openly but the council was certainly not open with their idea of the ban. A community working group, the domestic animal management advisory committee, had been working most of 2013 to come up with off-leash times and areas for the holiday seasons, Christmas to Easter. At no time was the issue of walking dogs on a leash spoken about at these community meetings.
Robert Scott, Inverloch
With regard to the recent debate on dog free beaches, I wonder why the Bass Coast Shire can’t make available a dog-friendly park? This park would need to be fenced for the safety of our dogs and allow interaction/socialisation off the leash, and even provide some agility items to stimulate our dogs. There are so many dog owners in this area all paying registration; can’t some of these funds be directed in this way? I have been to South Australia many times, and one park in particular was perfect for our dogs: it provided 5 acres of grass/concrete to explore, agility items made of predominantly concrete, but there were old car tyres used as well, a water supply, and a poo bag dispenser complete with bins to dispose of this waste. The vast majority of dog owners that walk their dogs are responsible. In my opinion, the beach should be available for everyone at any time. Dog droppings are not as bad as broken glass/syringes. I am curious to know where our dog registration monies go…
Michelle Graham
December 10, 2013
Apparently this new dog law is to make laws consistent across Bass Coast Shire. It really has nothing to do with reflecting the concerns of the community. Read the October council meeting minutes, Pages 51-58. The response to the survey indicates that the top five comment categories from non-dog owner respondents (Page 53) actually supported designated off-leash areas and dogs being on leads - nothing about dogs NOT being on beaches. Why is it not possible for Inverloch to retain its uniqueness and individuality and allow dogs on beaches on leads at any time? People then will continue not to turn at the roundabout and go to "The Island" but rather come to Inverloch because they can have their dog with them on the beach. This supports the local businesses and keeps Inverloch thriving.
Patricia Saultry
December 9, 2013
I for one wish to congratulate Cr Crugnale for her comprehensive letter to The Bass Coast Post. As she says it is a complex issue and her comments outline the many facets in a clear, instructive and open manner.
It was unfortunate that the shire council overlooked consulting with the domestic animal management advisory committee but by her report this oversight is to be addressed as it should.
Nevertheless I am very much in support of the comments put forward by Henrika T. and trust the Bass Coast Shire will seriously consider these recommendations. They are practical, constructive and wise.
Bob Middleton, Jeetho West
December 8, 2013
I think most people will be offended by Cr Crugnale’s remark, “I seem to have rung the town bell and everyone is now talking about dogs”. People are not just talking about dogs they are asking, “Why after all these years are we no longer to walk along the water’s edge with our dog on a lead?” Cr Crugnale and the council have been asked this question on numerous occasions by me and several others and there is no answer coming forth.
Cr Crugnale also states the debate needs to be had openly but the council was certainly not open with their idea of the ban. A community working group, the domestic animal management advisory committee, had been working most of 2013 to come up with off-leash times and areas for the holiday seasons, Christmas to Easter. At no time was the issue of walking dogs on a leash spoken about at these community meetings.
Robert Scott, Inverloch