A group of dog owners who regularly gather at Boathaven Beach to run their dogs off-leash and swim in the safe confines of the stinger net are imploring Council to provide dedicated dog-friendly times following a warning from rangers to put their pets on a lead.
Norma Strang and Paula Medley are part of a group of around 20 individuals who meet casually most mornings at the New Beach in Airlie.
“I moved here about 14 months ago and every friend I’ve made is from the beach,” said Paula.
“It’s a big community of friends and I love swimming here – I need to get in the water, and clear my head before starting the day.”
Norma added that she sees no need for the Council to change the rules.
“What’s the problem?” she said.
“The people are great, this is our morning mental health, our dogs are fine, we pick up after them and they are no trouble.
“We just want a few hours for us here with the dogs early morning - we are ratepayers too and our dogs need exercise off the lead”
Director of Community Services for Whitsunday Regional Council, Julie Wright said that Boathaven Beach has always been an on-leash dog walking area.
“It has never been an off-leash beach, it is an on-leash beach,” said Julie.
“It appears the signage from the western end of the beach has been removed by an unknown in recent months, but this sign will be replaced in the coming days.
“The on-leash signage is still in place at the eastern end of Boathaven Beach and dogs are not permitted to swim inside the stinger enclosure.”
Julie recommends that the group meet at the eastern end of Cannonvale beach which is an off-leash area from 5am-8pm daily except from 8am-9am and 2.30pm-3.30pm on school days.
Norma has been investigating the legal rights of dog owners and asserts that the beach is in international waters and is therefore not within the Council’s jurisdiction.
In response to that, Council said that Local Law considers it a ‘public place’ when referring to animals under effective control, so the argument of international waters is invalid.
She also added that Council had received “several complaints in the past six weeks from residents complaining that their families have been harassed by dogs off the lead at Boathaven Beach”.
“As a result, Local Laws teams will increase patrols to enforce the on-leash status,” she said.
There are no current plans for Council to change the restrictions, but the group believe that allocated off-leash times would allow all ratepayers to live freely and they remain hopeful that restrictions could change.
Local dog owners enjoying an off-leash swim with their friendly pooches at New Beach in Airlie. Photo credit: Rachael Smith.
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