Station Beach in Palm Beach is still not an off-the-leash dog area and dog owners are still waiting for the Northern Beaches Council to announce the start of the 12-month trial run.
A decision into this proposal was supposed to have been deliberated last March and confirmed last April. However, the Council has not yet updated the proposal’s official Your Say page. It is unclear what has been causing the delay.
The Council conducted a three-month survey to determine the pulse of the community with regards turning Station Beach into an off-the-leash dog park. According to reports, the public consultation received over 3,524 responses and, allegedly, about 90 percent of these were in support of the proposal.
Pittwater Unleashed, a dog advocacy group, has been watching social media and community posts to determine the buzz and support for a Station Beach off-the-leash dog park. They believe that there are plenty of families in Palm Beach and nearby suburbs who want more open spaces for their furry family members.
If approved, the proposed trial will cover specific hours for Station Beach to be open to off-the-leash dogs:
- 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. daily during standard times
- 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday in the summer season (Daylight Saving Time)
The dogs will also only be allowed to be off the leash in the areas within the yellow zone.
Another advocacy group, however, believes that social media buzz does not reflect the true sentiments of the community. Protect Palm Beach opposes the proposal for a Station Beach off-the-leash dog park regardless if it’s only for specific times of the day.
“The inevitable impacts of off-leash dogs on the environment and coastline will, sadly, last beyond the proposed times of operation. We want the community to think about the bigger picture and the long term preservation of our be
Meanwhile, the Council has already approved Avalon Beach Reserve as a permanent off-the-leash dog park at all times last April. It is located 6.24 kilometres off Station Beach.
