VANESSA HALL
EDITOR
SUNSHINE Coast Council have said they are listening to the community and have extended the opportunity for the community to have their say on the changes to dog on and off-leash areas across the region by one week.
The ‘Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee’ (Save Stumers) have been working tirelessly to get the message out in the region and one of their main requests was for an extension of time to submit responses to the Dog Exercise Area Plan (DEAP), the group stating that they believed many in the community were not aware of what Council was proposing.
Save Stumers are concerned as the DEAP proposes that off-leash access will only be available from north of the creek; presently, the off-leash access cuts off at the caravan park boundary.
Council states that the extension allows more time for the community to share their thoughts on how best to balance our vibrant recreational culture with the need to protect the Sunshine Coast’s unique ecosystems.
Silke Herwald from Save Stumers said that they appreciate the gesture, but it isn’t enough time at all.
“Mostly, people we meet on the beach are still blissfully unaware of the proposed changes.
“The “have your say” signs and flyers look so lovely and innocent that unless people know they’d never assume that they are about to lose the one place they feel connected to the most. We currently are doing the Council’s job of informing everyone we meet.”
Save Stumers state that more time is needed in order to counter the claims being made by Council.
“Council is quoting environmental reasons or problems with dog attacks. But whenever we ask Council to see these studies, they are not on hand when needed. The studies just get quoted. The process so far lacks transparency. As a Community, it is impossible to make useful suggestions without that data.
“As dog owners and the constituents who use the off-leash beaches, we are the largest stakeholder, and we would like to conduct certain studies so that we can make meaningful suggestions which are based on current and real-world studies,” Silke said.
Council is stating that their draft DEAP considers environmental impacts alongside community needs to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez emphasised the importance of protecting sensitive coastal environments while maintaining generous dog access.
“We’re working to ensure our beaches remain accessible while protecting the critical habitats that make our region so special.”
This environmental protection is also looking at rocky headland areas with these areas biodiversity hotspots – home to marine plants, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, birds and marine mammals.
“Unlike people and dogs, many of these species are territorial and sessile—they cannot simply move to another location,” Cr Suarez said.
“Protecting and preserving these habitats is vital for maintaining the health and biodiversity of our coastal ecosystems.”
Save Stumers said that they want to see data specific to the actual Stumers region.
“We’d like to see current studies because so far the information provided can be anecdotal at best, rather than driven by data,” Silke said.
Mayor attends Stumers meeting
Mayor Rosanna Natoli, who, along with CEO John Baker, attended a gathering on Saturday, February 22 at Stumers Creek Park at the invitation of Save Stumers and stated that Council wants to strike a balance between environmental conservation and important community recreation.
“Our beaches and foreshores are integral to our community’s lifestyle, liveability, and their mental health.
“The draft DEAP recognises this and reflects our region’s shared values and Council developed the plan using detailed assessment tools to evaluate factors such as environmental impact, cultural heritage protection, public safety and accessibility.
“We want the community to know that environmental values are just one of many considerations in our decision-making.”
Save Stumers said that as a group, they were finding the process not transparent and had many issues with aspects of the DEAP.
“Council does not seem to understand that people’s mental and physical health is at stake here,” Silke said.
“It is so very sad to witness. People are frightened, sad, angry and just devastated. People are grieving the loss of their community, grieving for the loss of their mental health and we have been consoling people crying every day.
“And nobody seems to understand the absolutely flawed logic as to why Council would decrease dog off-leash beaches when the dog population will grow from 54,000 to over 80,000,” Silke said.
Have your say
The draft Dog Exercise Area Plan community engagement period has been extended by one week to March 7.
Council encourages residents to review the plan and participate in the community engagement process by attending a pop-up session or completing the online survey.
Visit haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au to find more information and keep an eye on the additional pop-up sessions times and locations coming soon.