Pittwater Life September 2019 Issue

Green light for dog trial
After lengthy consideration, Northern
Beaches Council staff have given the
controversial offleash dog trial at Station
Beach the green light, subject to adoption
of recommendations in the independent
Review of Environmental Factors.
At the top of the staff’s
list are these yellow marker
buoys; three of them will
be spaced apart along the
shoreline, to serve as an
indicator to owners that
their dogs must stay within
the line of the buoys.
The buoys will be
moored/chained to the
sand, three metres on the
shore side of sea grass,
which will create a buffer
zone between the dogs and
the grass.
Also, there will be an
increased Ranger presence;
currently Rangers visit Palm Beach at least
three times a week at varying days and
times between 6am and 7pm. Additional
patrols to be conducted at the commencement
of the trial and at random days and
times thereafter.
Two large entry signs with a map of
the off-leash area, conditions of use and
environmental information including about
sea grass will be installed, as well as two
smaller information signs and two dog bag
dispensers and bags.
It has emerged that of the 2880 responses
from people who lived
on Northern Beaches, a
whopping 86.9 per cent
supported the trial at the
proposed location.
Further breakdown
showed 1694 respondents
were from Palm Beach,
Whale Beach, Avalon,
Avalon Beach and Newport
– the suburbs closest to
the trial area.
Groups that supported
the trial included Pittwater
Unleashed, Manly
Dogs, Palm Beach Golf
Club, the Palm Beach &
Whale Beach Association, and the Boat Owners
Association.
Groups opposed to the trial included Protect
Palm Beach and the Newport Residents
Association.
Council was expected to endorse the trial
at its August meeting. – Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
SEPTEMBER 2019 11