A public exhibition will soon start for a draft Review of Environmental Factors regarding the proposed dog off-leash areas at Palm Beach and Mona Vale Beach.
Read: Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area in Palm Beach Sparks Controversy
This comes after Council has resolved to undertake environmental assessments for the 12-month trial of off-leash areas in the Northern Beaches.
The draft review will recommend a number of measures to manage the risk of potential environmental impacts, such as installation of clear and well-placed signages, provision of bags suitable for the collection of animal waste at off-leash areas and/or access points, and increased patrols by Council officers during peak times.
It should also consider utilising existing poles for the provision of new signage and monitoring of compliance with the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the undertaking of appropriate regulatory and enforcement action, as needed.
Proposed dog off-leash area at Palm Beach
The length of the proposed off-leash area at Palm Beach is 400 metres. The trial area and boundaries are the following:
- Northern boundary – 280 m south of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
- Southern boundary – 300 m north of the North Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
- Western boundary – the eastern edge of the dunes in Governor Phillip Park.
- Eastern boundary – 130 m east of the eastern edge of the dunes.
During the community engagement held in 2021, around 84 percent of all respondents supported the proposal, whilst only 3 percent supported the proposal with recommended changes.
“Every suburb should have an off leash area for dogs according to general recommendations of the Government. In Palm Beach the next one is 5 km away in Avalon and impossible to be reached without a car due to the lack of infrastructure in the form of a footpath,” one local said during the community engagement.
Use of both of the off-leash dog trial project areas will be restricted to the following times:
- 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., Monday to Sunday (seven days a week)
- 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00pm to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday (seven days a week)
The draft review will go on exhibition for a minimum period of 28 days, with dates yet to be announced. See Northern Beaches Council’s website to stay updated about the dates of the exhibition.
