Residents voice outrage over Sunshine Coast Council’s controversial proposal to ban off-leash dogs from popular beach

Pet owners and their local council are in a stand off as a controversial proposal to ban off-leash dogs at a popular beach has lead to outrage in the community. Tensions have now boiled over, and grown men have been reduced to tears over the proposal. “At one of the events we hosted … two men and at least three women that day were in tears at the thought of changes being made to Stumers Creek of leash beach,” committee co-founder Bree Logie told NewsWire. “I have to tell you this broke my heart as it’s not often you see a grown man cry.” Ms Logie co-founded The Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee, which has been created to oppose the Sunshine Coast council’s Draft Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan. “Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach has been a popular off-leash dog beach for over thirty years,” Ms Logie told NewsWire. “Most locals take great pride in having our dogs off leash, while respecting the environment, the turtles during breeding season and also each other.” Ms Logie has been a local to the area for over two decades, and purchased her home at Coolum Beach specifically to be able to be able to enjoy the off-leash beach with her pack of rescue dogs. “Coolum Beach is unique in that Stumers Creek has many people who frequent the beach who do not own dogs, however they enjoy the interaction with the off leash dogs that visit the beach daily,” she said. Among these regulars Rob Debnam, who goes to the beach specifically to enjoy time with the off-leash dogs after his beloved furry friend, Socks, passed away. “We have one gentleman who travels 40 minutes per day for his mental health,” Ms Logie said. “His dog died two years ago and he religiously returns to the beach several times a week to sit and chat to the locals and interact with the dogs.” The committee believes that dogs are not causing substantial damage to the environment of the beach. But the council has said it has a responsibility to consider the “environmental toll” animals take on beaches in the LGA. A spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia community feedback was currently being reviewed. “This plan is about shaping a future network of dog exercise areas across the entire Sunshine Coast — whether that’s parks, beaches or recreation reserves — that meet the needs of dog owners while respecting our region’s environmental and community values,” the spokesperson said. “The community feedback will help ensure we strike the right balance between creating safe recreational spaces for dog owners and non-dog owners alike, while maintaining the natural beauty of our region.” NewsWire has contacted the council for comment. Council’s current proposed plan would change the one kilometre stretch of sandy coastline which makes Stumers Creek in Coolum Beach a leashed area, as council aims to protect the natural environment. This comes as part of a broader policy plan which would create more dog parks, but less off-leash stretches of beach. Many locals have been infuriated over the decision, taking to Facebook to assert that their pets are more well behaved than children, cause minimal environmental disturbance, and need the area to relax and enjoy freely. This comes amid a broader move of Australian councils moving away from off-leash beaches due to increasing concerns about wildlife protection, erosion, and non-dog beachgoers’ comfort. This trend has sparked controversy within communities, with dog owners and local communities voicing their concerns. Among these, are the Shoalhaven City Council which approved a proposal to permanently reduce the off-leash area at Narrawallee Beach and City of Greater Geelong which implemented a permanent ban on dogs at Ocean Grove Beach after a two-year trial. The council will come to their final resolution within the next few months. NewsWire reached out to the Sunshine Coast Council for comment, but did not receive a comment by the time of publishing.