DOG owners will be made to keep their furry friends on a lead when visiting Edithvale Beach, after a proposal to let four legged companions roam free was rejected by council.
On 22 October Kingston Council voted to turn down the proposal. Kingston mayor Cr Steve Staikos said “council received nearly 1,000 submissions from community members opposing the plan, and a number of other issues were raised through the consultation process.”
“From the responses we identified some common issues. Residents are fed up with people not picking up after their dogs, they would like more patrols, have access to free dog bags, and see more fenced off leash areas created in Kingston.
“Council has taken on board all of the feedback we’ve received and struck the right balance.”
Councillors decided as part of their decision not to proceed with a 24-hour off leash zone on Edithvale Beach that they would “investigate alternative options for fenced off leash areas in the South Ward in non foreshore reserves, undertake a report into the feasibility of introducing disposable dog bags” and “increase patrols during the summer on Kingston’s foreshores”.
Dog owners are now restricted to set times in which they can have their pets off leash.
From 1 November to 31 March, dogs are only permitted to be off leash on sanded areas from sunrise to 10am. Dogs are forbidden on the beach between 10am and 7.30pm. From 7.30pm onwards, dogs on the beach can be walked on leash.
From 1 April to 31 October, dogs must be on a leash from 11am to 3pm. They are permitted off leash on the sanded areas at all other times.
A consultation session was held on 16 October to engage with residents about their thoughts on the proposal.
The matter was set to be discussed at the 24 September council meeting, but was deferred to make time for this consultation and to provide absent south ward councillors David Eden and Tamsin Bearsley a chance to contribute to discussion. (“Off leash dogs on the agenda”, The News 17/10/18)
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 31 October 2018
