The proposal put to councillors at Monday night’s meeting – for there to be no change to off-leash beach zonings throughout the city – came after nearly four months of heated protests and social media campaigning, mostly from the pro-dogs-on-beaches lobby group ‘‘Unleash Our Beaches’’.

Supporters of the current system, which allows dogs to continue to roam free on Sharkeys, McCauleys, Little Austinmer and Stanwell Park beaches, say the beaches should be shared equally between dogs and people, however those calling for a more restrictive system say priority should be given to humans.

At Monday night’s meeting, councillors voted 11-2 to back the staff recommendation that the policy remain unchanged, following a mammoth two hours of debate.

Three public addresses opened the meeting, with Illawarra Dog Community Group spokesperson Diana Messum and Austinmer vet Dr Warwick Prowse in favour of retaining the status quo, while resident Ron McMaster called for a greater restriction of dogs on beaches.

Ms Messum said the results of the survey overwhelmingly supported no change to the current policy.

Dr Prowse, a former RSPCA director, said the vast majority of dog owners displayed responsible dog ownership practices.

‘‘To me it’s madness to control the few problems that may occur by shutting out all the dogs [from the beach],’’ he said.

‘‘Quite frankly I’d prefer to tread on dog poo than needles ... or fish hooks, it’s really not the worst thing."

However, Mr McMaster said he was sick of seeing dog owners flout the law, particularly on his local Sharkeys Beach.

‘‘Just because a minority is noisy, doesn’t mean their view should carry more weight,’’ he said.

Liberal councillor Leigh Colacino moved the staff recommendation, saying while he supported retaining the current policy, he wanted to see better education and better enforcement.

‘‘It’s important for dogs to have the chance to interact, but an off-leash beach is not a creche,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m against the few inconsiderate dog owners ... who spoil it for the rest.’’

Several councillors, including Greens representative Jill Merrin, and Labor’s Chris Connor and Janice Kershaw, raised concerns about the nature of some of the communication they had received, labelling it ‘‘vitriol’’ and ‘‘very disappointing’’.

Cr Merrin said both she and her partner had been threatened, bullied and intimidated during the policy review process.

Councillors Kershaw, Brown, Martin, Takacs, Blicavs, Dorahy, Colacino, Crasnich, Curran, Petty and Bradbery voted in favour of the staff recommendation.

Councillors Merrin and Connor voted against it.