Anger at plans to ban dogs on beach ‘widespread’, say owners

Kim Waters
RESIDENTS have gathered 300 signatures on a petition against banning dogs from a Point Lonsdale beach.
They have circulated the petition along with posters and brochures as part of a campaign against Borough of Queenscliffe’s proposed dog ban.
The dog owners have rejected claims their pets threaten a small population of endangered hooded plovers nesting on the beach between Fellows and Buckleys roads.
Spokesperson Dean Zanoni said community feedback against the plan was “widespread”.
“We’ve put up a lot of signs, handed out brochures and had discussions with council about it, so everything is looking pretty positive at the moment,” Mr Zanoni said.
“There have also been quite a few submissions sent in to council opposing the ban.”
Opponents have labelled the dog owners’ campaign as “council bashing”.
Queenscliff’s Rob Wallis said the owners had misled the public with posters displaying “incorrect information”.
“They’ve put up all these posters everywhere saying dogs will be banned on all beaches. The proposal is to ban dogs from the back beach and it’s only to protect the endangered birds, so in no way is that information correct.”
Mr Wallis said the group should work with council instead of “stirring up trouble”.
Birds Australia volunteer John Murray said dogs on the beach had been an “ongoing problem” for the past five years.
“Last summer was the first time we’d had a successful hooded plover nest in six years, so it’s a pretty serious situation,” Mr Murray said.
“Community education is the key to solving the problem rather than all the heated debating.”