Plea for two off-leash areas

Proposed changes to sizeable stretch of Moreton Bay foreshore have been challenged again.

Beachmere resident David Morrison has told a full meeting of Moreton Bay City Council a section of waterfront should be kept for dogs off-leash – not on-leash.

It follows Council’s announcement in November of “new recreation areas” for dogs and horses along a section of Beachmere shoreline.

Five days before the new areas were to come start, on February 3, Council put them on hold following the presentation of two petitions – one being 235 pages long.

Proposed new exercise areas

Mr Morrison used the Community Comment platform at Council’s General Meetings, to push for the retention of two off-leash areas – not reduce it to one.

He said in the 44 years he has lived at Bayside Dr “shorebirds, humans and dogs, have lived in harmony” with on off-leash section of beach.

“Shorebirds are happy, they have no roosting sites along the populated length of Bayside Dr,” Mr Morrison said. “They prefer to forage close to roosting sites with no interference."

He said roosts were in mangroves and forest north towards Godwin Beach and Sandstone Point and the environment park at the southern end of Beachmere.

Current exercise areas 1

Mr Morrison fears having one smaller off-leash area, by Biggs Ave, will see people flouting rules and letting dogs off-leash in areas “birds now enjoy for themselves”.

He said Biggs Ave has “no easy access for the elderly and their dogs, is infested with mosquitos and sandflies and has very limited parking”.

“Bayside Dr has ample parking, easy access to the beach for the elderly and those unfortunate enough to be confined to a wheelchair,” he said.

“The Beachmere area has a great need for two off-leash dog opportunities – and I do ask you to consider this.”

Current exercise areas 2

Community Comment sessions allow residents/ratepayers in the City of Moreton Bay five minutes to address a General Meeting.

Topics must relate to Council business, speakers must apply to Council’s CEO and submit the full address at least three days before the meeting.

Councillors do not respond to the presentation during the meeting.