Dog owners across the Coast could soon face major changes to where their pets can roam, with councillors set to vote this Thursday on an overhaul of off-leash access.
The amendments would implement parts of Sunshine Coast Council’s Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025–2045, adopted late last year.
If approved at the April 23 meeting, the changes would introduce new off-leash parks, expand restrictions in key locations and tighten controls in conservation areas.
The new law is scheduled to take effect from July 3.
Division 2 Councillor Terry Landsberg, who voted against the blueprint in December, said he was concerned the plan relied on a values-based risk assessment.
“The reasons why I voted against the plan was because of the lack of evidence-based data that was not provided in the report,” he said.
He also questioned the impact of closing Point Cartwright to off-leash dogs, particularly on other busy areas.
“What does this mean for other off leash areas such as Ballinger Beach, Currimundi? The increased numbers we are already experiencing is impacting accessibility and public use at the Buderim Street access, which is a very popular surfing location,” he said.
“I also did not agree with the closure of our Rocky Foreshores of Moffat Headland and Caloundra Head, as well as the closure of Beach Access 262 north of Ann Street at Dicky Beach, which is the passage for local residents providing a direct pathway to the beach.
“Now many dog walkers will be forced to use the Buderim Street accesses 260 and 261.”
Council states the changes follow consultation during development of the broader plan in early 2025, and that further consultation was not required.
Dicky Beach resident Brad Holcroft also opposed the changes.
“I fail to see what closing the Ann Street beach access point to dogs is going to achieve,” he said.
“What I can be positively sure it will achieve is that the council will be seen to have gone out of its way to infuriate, enrage and generally provide ill will towards all those locals who reside or have residences within the ‘Golden Triangle’ precinct and use, and have used, this access to the beach with their dogs for some sixty years.”
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Among the proposed changes are new or expanded dog parks at Pelican Waters, Yandina, Yandina Tea Tree Park and Banya Avenue Linear Park, with expansions also planned at Grand Parade in Parrearra and Ridgehaven Park in Aroona.
At Coolum’s Stumers Creek, only minor changes will be introduced after community feedback, with the off-leash beach area remaining in place.
The proposal would simply shift the start of the off-leash zone further along the beach, requiring dogs to be on-leash between the car park and the designated area.
Off-leash areas at Currimundi, Alexandra Headland, Kings Beach, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore would be reduced or redefined, while tougher restrictions are proposed for places including Mudjimba, Point Cartwright and Moffat Beach.
Seasonal limits at North Shore and Twin Waters aim to protect migratory shorebirds.
The proposal also includes bans across 17 conservation reserves, six nature reserves and 13 bushland reserves, with access in parts of six bushland networks limited to designated trails.
Dogs would also be banned from active sports fields, with some permit exemptions for events.
Five rocky foreshores, including Point Cartwright, Moffat Headland and Caloundra Headland would become dog-free zones.
