Dog bans in koala areas

NEW mapping shows dogs will be banned from most of the green behind the gold in the Gold Coast hinterland in a bid to protect koalas.

Council is seeking feedback from residents to the mapping which will also include at least 13 proposed new off-leash dog areas across the city.

There are 60,000 registered dogs on the Coast.

Councillors on Facebook have begun outlining the community consultation, explaining the state’s mapping of areas of environmental significance had affected its animal control register.

“Division 9 and other hinterland areas are impacted and several areas where dogs were previously allowed on lead are now proposed to prohibit dogs,” Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer told the Bulletin.

“Some off-leash areas are changed in the draft maps, for a variety of reasons including state mapping, other sport activities using the open space and fencing changes to existing off-leash areas.”

Cr Tozer admitted dog owners were “very passionate about having places to walk and play with their pets” and some had become “agitated” about having enough time to comment.

“Importantly, we’re talking to the media and inviting community feedback so everyone can share their views.”

The maps show entire conservation areas will be off limits to dogs, even when owners have their pets on leashes.

The mapping appears complicated in parts with a combination of either dog bans or onleash areas drawn up in routes around the edge of suburban streets.

Asked if the community input would make much difference, and whether it would be difficult to change boundaries given the presence of koalas, Cr Tozer admitted it would be a challenge.

“The state laws are pretty strict when it comes to koala conservation and protection, but council will certainly consider community views when it comes to our reserve areas being places to walk dogs onlead,” he said.

At Wednesday’s full council meeting, councillors opposed a petition calling for an off-leash dog area at Nobby Beach.

Area councillor Pauline Young said the city had 128 offleash areas and the beach area was patrolled and “heavily utilised by the community”.

But Palm Beach and Burleigh-based councillor Daphne McDonald, who has two of the city’s four off-leash dog areas on the waterfront, wants a wider review.

Given the pressure on those areas, the complaints about dog attacks, council needs to consider “an independent investigation into dog off-lead areas” and how they could be better policed, she said.

Robina-based Division 11 council representative Hermann Vorster told colleagues: “We have a fundamental issue of policing animal behaviour in the city.”

He said city officers could not compel dog owners to identify themselves if an offence occurred, and they had to call police.