Kim Waters
Queenscliffe council’s proposal to ban dogs on a Point Lonsdale beach has won community backing following ongoing reports of attacks on endangered wildlife.
Residents labeled the proposal “sensible” amid fears unleashed dogs would wipe out a small population of endangered hooded plovers.
Bellarine Catchment Network coastal coordinator Sue Longmore said the native species was “very vulnerable” and highly endangered.
“Unfortunately this bird’s peak breeding period is also during the peak beach season,” Ms Longmore said.
“The chicks are pretty helpless when they’re first born and have to feed down amongst the algae and seaweed brought up from the tide.
“If animals get too close then the adult plovers try to steer them away and it leaves the chicks open to predation.”
The council proposes to enforce an area where dogs will be prohibited year-round between the beach access tracks 3W and 4W on the Point Lonsdale back beach.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros supported the proposal and said signage near the beach had been ineffective.
“They’ve had signs up in the area warning people to control their dogs and walk below the high tide mark but people haven’t obeyed that,” Ms Lindros said.
“There are only 400 or so of these hooded plovers left in Australia and it’s very important that we protect them.”
Queenscliff Community Associ-ation member David Kenwood said unleashed dogs had been an ongoing problem in the area for a few years.
“There has been this constant issue with dogs attacking the hooded plovers but also quite a few incidences where residents have been bitten or attacked,” Mr Kenwood said.
“Something needed to be done about it and I think council has made the right decision.”
Mr Kenwood said locals were committed to protecting the population of endangered birds but were hindered by “uneducated tourists”.
“The main issue is that tourists bring their dogs for a walk on the beach and don’t realise how much damage they can do to the wildlife and the environment,” he said.
“Anytime you try to place restrictions on foreshore land there are problems but I hope everyone realises that there are plenty of other alternative sites in the area for dog walking.
“A dog-walking beach is a difficult facility to provide and people need to realise that the restrictions are in place for the safety of the environment, the wildlife and other beach users.”