Dog walkers are happy a temporary off-leash beach might be given an extra year but maintain they were promised a review of changes in their patch.
Councillors will be asked to consider an extension of the temporary off-leash area at Point Cartwright at Sunshine Coast Council’s next ordinary meeting on Thursday.
The previous council voted last year to ban dogs from sections of the beach but agreed to a temporary off-leash area during limited times at what locals call Carties Beach.
The temporary off-leash area was due to expire at the end of June 2025 but a report on the agenda for discussion at the council meeting recommends it be extended to the end of June 2026.
The report says the extension would allow for a Regional Dog Exercise Area Plan and Network Blueprint to be presented to the council.
Vivienne Williams and John Brand, members of the La Balsa Bow Wows group, which railed against the changes to the off-leash beach, said the extension would not hurt but dog walkers wanted a review of the council’s decision to ban dogs from the area.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
They said Mayor Rosanna Natoli left those who attended a pre-election meeting at La Balsa Park with the impression she was willing to review the decision to close most of La Balsa-Point Cartwright to off-leash walkers.
“From our perspective, Rosanna Natoli made a commitment to our group that she would review the off-leash are once elected,” Mr Brand said.
Mr Brand said he had twice written to the mayor since the election requesting the review occur but said Cr Natoli had replied that the Regional Dog Exercise Plan process was underway and that one of her team had listened to a recording of the meeting.
He said the Regional Dog Exercise Plan was exactly that – a region-wide plan – and not the review of the Point Cartwright off-leash area as promised.
Ms Williams said the issue was not going to go away and the council had “created a monster that they don’t know how to deal with”.
Sunshine Coast News contacted the mayor’s office and asked when the La Balsa-Point Cartwright by-law changes would be reviewed and what had restricted that from happening to date.
“The draft Regional Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan is currently in development and will be subject to community consultation in the new year,” the response from the mayor’s office said.
“Council will consider a recommendation to amend the Subordinate Local Law No.2 (Animal Management) 2024 at the December 12 Ordinary Meeting (Item 8.9).
“This relates to extending the temporary timed off-leash area Monday to Friday, located at the Northern Beach (commonly known as ‘Carties Beach’) at Point Cartwright, Buddina, by 12 months to June 30, 2026, to allow completion of the Regional Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan.”
Mr Brand said the Regional Dog Exercise Plan was not the review of the Point Carwright situation that dog-owners had been led to expect.
“If they think that’s going to appease us, they’re wrong,” he said.
Mr Brand said La Balsa Bow Wows would continue to hold the mayor to what those present at the meeting believed as a commitment to a review of the Point Cartwright by-laws.
