"Recognise this historic moment"

Moreton Bay City Council has been urged to “stick to its unanimously agreed position” over off-leash areas on a popular beach.

Richard Ogden, President of BEIPA (Bribie Island Environment Protection Association), says we need to recognise “this historic moment” to protect shorebirds.

Mr Ogden has called on Council not to waiver from its proposals to cut Beachmere’s dog off-leash areas from two down to just one.

“If we, our whole community, fails to recognise this historic moment, in terms of valuing and protecting our threatened natural world, we will be found utterly culpable by future generations,” the BEIPA President said.

“Stick to your unanimously agreed position to endorse the revised dog off-leash area at Beachmere and set us on course to establish world class environmental protections throughout Moreton Bay.”

In November, Council announced “new recreation areas” for dogs and horses on a 6km section of Beachmere shoreline to start on February 3.

But on January 28, Councillors put the changes on hold after two petitions opposing the changes were presented – one was 235 pages long.

Using the Community Comment at General Meetings, Mr Ogden said Moreton Bay’s migratory bird population has fallen by 4000 from 2008-2021. The Eastern Curlew by 80 per cent in the last 30 years.

“I’m here to reinforce the historic, essential and critical importance of a wider and permanent commitment from Council to protecting our foreshores and the return of many thousands of shorebirds no longer in our region,” he told Councillors.

“Much of this decline results from human disturbance, habitat clearing, recreation and especially from off-leash dogs and development.

“One in six bird species in Australia are today facing extinction - 22 of these are found in the Federal seat of Longman. This is utterly pertinent to the Moreton community and it is our responsibility.”

Mr Ogden said BEIPA is prepared to help find additional inland off-leash areas for domestic dogs and their owners, along similar lines to the efforts of Sunshine Coast Council.

“We call them shorebirds for a reason,” he said. “They can only survive on the sandy and muddy shoreline where they feed and rest. A leading cause of birds leaving these sites is disturbance from off-leash dogs.

“Clearly the Moreton community supports the prioritization of nature and we must collectively be the voice of these birds … none of whom can sign a petition.”

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.