Pittwater Life November 2018 Issue

News Council has ‘dropped offleash lead’ Dog-owners advocacy group <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed has accused Northern Beaches Council of unnecessarily delaying the introduction of an off-leash dog trial at Palm Beach’s Station Beach which it says should have been settled by staff months ago. The community group is furious that Council has wasted time and money assigning a Council staff member to oversee the project, only to stonewall the plan at the 11th hour. At a meeting on June 26, Council resolved to trigger a public consultation process within 12 weeks, subject to there being no unresolvable barriers to do so, presented in any Government Agency correspondence response to the proposed trial. The site for the proposed trial involves the <strong>Pittwater</strong> foreshore commencing 80 metres north of Beach Road and finishing at the Boathouse Wharf, 630 metres south of National Park lands. <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed, whose charter is to deliver “a voice for dog owners promoting a ‘Fair Share’ open space policy across the Northern Beaches Local Government Area” said Council had pointed to considerations requested by the NSW Lands Department in September as the reason for the additional delay. Given “environmental sensitivities” NSW Lands had requested a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) be undertaken. But <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed spokesman Mitch Geddes said there was no reason for Council to be commissioning further studies given a 50-page REF and Biodiversity Assessment had already been undertaken by the former <strong>Pittwater</strong> Council, at a reported cost of $15,000. According to Mr Geddes, the previous REF had been “misplaced” by Council in 2014, but is now available for all to see. “The work is already done, and it is high time we let the community see the findings, by way of the formal consultation process,” he said. At its June meeting Council also invited the Executive Committee of <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed to help develop the parameters for the Station Beach trial prior to its projected September public exhibition commencement. Preparations for the trial had progressed to the point where a draft sign had been prepared for the site to outline the conditions and scope of the trial (pictured). Following discussion with <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed, the parameters of the trial propose a 12-month timeframe, with restrictions between 4.00pm to 10.30am (Eastern Standard Time) and 5.30pm to 10.30am (Daylight Savings Time). Mr Geddes said: “The Department of Lands already had its go when it demanded the first REF. The conduct of Lands, and other departmental officers at that time has recently been called into question, and is the subject of an investigation by Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton and Lands Minister Paul Toole. “Imposing new delays and cost duplication at this late stage is not a good look, especially when one of the laughable suggestions is that we consider taking the dogs back to Careel Bay! “Council needs to get on with the job of delivering for the community by activating this stretch of underutilised foreshore, and by not getting caught up in endless bureaucratic circles.” General Manager Environment and Infrastructure Ben Taylor told <strong>Pittwater</strong> <strong>Life</strong>: “We know off leash dog parks are an important topic for the community and Council is committed to providing improved spaces for our four-legged friends. “Council has now received feedback about a trial off-leash dog area on Station Beach from a range of Government agencies including the NSW Government’s Department of Industry. “This feedback identifies the need for environmental research prior to proceeding with any trial. “The next steps are that Council will work with the government to meet their requirements prior to conducting any community consultation.” While the commencement date for public exhibition is currently up in the air, Council CEO Ray Brownlee had set a meeting with <strong>Pittwater</strong> Unleashed for late October. “He’s only been here five minutes, and is already onto this. We take this as a very good sign – that he won’t cop these costly delay tactics,” Mr Geddes said. – Nigel Wall 6 NOVEMBER <strong>2018</strong> The Local Voice Since 1991