A professional lifeguard has waded into the controversial dogs-on-beaches debate after snapping photos of community campaigners walking their dogs in a restricted zone.
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Around 2000 people took to McCauleys Beach on Sunday to rally against proposed changes to Wollongong City Council’s dogs on beaches and parks policy, which would strip northern Illawarra dog owners of three off-leash beach areas.
The walk aimed to show public support for keeping Sharkeys, Little Austi and McCauleys as off-leash beaches, but drew the ire of lifeguard Ken Holloway when he noticed a small number of owners walking their dogs in restricted areas.
Mr Holloway, who had been tending to an injured surfer with other Sandon Point Surf Life Saving Club members at the time, said he was unsure if it was ‘‘ignorance or just total disregard’’ that caused them to flout the dog ban.
‘‘After the dog owners had their say, did their walk and got all of the publicity ...a number of them chose to walk back around the rocks over the rock platform [at Sandon Point],’’ he said.
‘‘It is not just enough to have their area where they can exercise their dogs, they want to push the envelope and go to other areas which have been set aside for good reasons.’’
The platforms, which are classified as a ‘‘red zone’’, are Aboriginal heritage protected and a popular stop-over for migratory birds.
Speaking for the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association, Mr Holloway said the policy review was welcomed.
‘‘Dogs and control of dogs on beaches is not a new issue but the demand of our beaches is increasing and how we cater for everybody who loves and wants to use our beaches is going to be a challenge for council,’’ he said.
‘‘We should, as educated people, be able to compromise but how we do deal with the people who are unwilling to compromise or don’t understand the rules?’’
The veteran lifeguard said he had been attacked by dogs and abused by their owners during his career, and personally believed dogs should be banned from beaches entirely.
Illawarra Dog Community committee member David Hurley said the offending dog owners represented a small percentage of participants and were likely unaware of the breach.
He said the incident highlighted the need for improvements to the existing policy.
‘‘It is great that this has been brought to your attention because it shows where the existing policy is failing, and where it can potentially be better managed or changed to make sure that that doesn’t happen again,’’ Mr Hurley said.
‘‘Our group is advocating better signage and better education, and this is a clear example of the need for this.
‘‘[We] plan to be involved in a community-led education and policing program to ensure that less people are unaware of the rules and even fewer choose to break them.’’
A group clean-up after the walk collected one dog faeces of indeterminate age and no litter, he said.
CLARIFICATION: The proposed policy is on public exhibition until October 6, not October 8 as reported by the Mercury last Tuesday.