Bellarine dog ban backflip

A LAST-MINUTE change of heart has moved to overturn a blanket ban on dogs from Ocean Grove’s main beach.

Geelong councillors on Tuesday voted in favour of a series of proposed dog access changes to Barwon Coast Committee of Management (BCCM)-managed beaches spanning from Connewarre to Collendina.

About 600 community responses shaped the proposed changes to the coastline, with a push to completely ban dogs from Ocean Grove main beach remaining unchanged despite a majority (56.9 per cent) of public responses disagreeing with the move.

But, Bellarine Ward councillor Trent Sullivan on Tuesday night added an amendment to the motion, allowing dogs on-lead at the beach between May 1 and November 30 and banned the rest of the year “following strong feedback from the community that a complete ban was too restrictive”.

“Dog access rules for beaches are often an emotive topic, but the modifications we’ve made strike a balance between the preferences of both dog owners and non-dog owners,” Cr Sullivan said. “The proposed rules aim to be simpler and easier to follow.”

The city will now seek BCCM’s endorsement of the proposed access changes, which include:

DOGS to be on-lead between

Blue Rocks and Thirteenth Beach (42W-36W) any time horses are present, and allowed off-lead at other times; BANNED dog access from Ocean Grove main beach (16W-13W) from December 1 to April 30, with dogs allowed on-lead the rest of the year; SEASONAL off-lead access for Collendina Beach, with dogs to be on a lead at all times 75m either side of the 7W marker in Collendina; and EXTENDED dog access times in summer peak areas (36W-34W, 27W-24W and 21W-16W) allowing access from 7pm-9am

The council released its proposed dog access controls late last year in a bid to simplify dog access zones, while also providing safe and accessible beaches for all users following a high number of reported incidents in the area, including 27 dog attacks in the first six months of 2019.

The feedback included responses from more than 450 dog owners — the majority of whom argued the controls would be too restrictive.

But, common responses from non-dog owners raised concerns with the regular failure of people not having their dogs under effective control, and too little of the coast available as dog-free areas.

The city received 63 complaints about dog-related incidents on BCCM land in 201718, including 10 dog attacks, 23 menacing dogs and 30 dogs “at large/off-leash in on-leash areas”.