Dogs in the Public Domain - Investigations, Trials and Projects

Council Rangers are offering free microchipping for well-behaved pooches in November and December.

The service is part of a responsible pet ownership initiative which sees Rangers offering advice and free microchipping at pop-up stalls across the Shoalhaven.

Acting Lead, Ranger Services, Jodie Parnell said all cats and dogs must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or before being sold or given away, whichever happens first.

Microchipping is not just a legal requirement, it gives lost, injured or stolen pets the best chance of being reunited with their owner. Council understands pet owners sometimes struggle to get their dogs or cats microchipped and we’re offering this service to help our pet owners in the community.

Rangers will be setting up pop-up stalls on the following dates and locations:

• Currarong - Abrahams Bosom Beach car park: 12pm to 1.30pm Saturday 25 November.
• Huskisson - Moona Moona Creek Reserve: 12pm to 1.30pm Saturday 9 December.

The offer of free microchipping does not apply to breeders and there is a limit to two dogs per owner. Dogs must be obedient and under the control of their owner.

Microchipping for cats will be available at another time and Rangers at the pop-up sessions can answer questions about microchipping and desexing cats.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 6 November 2023, the elected Council adopted temporary dog access arrangements at Narrawallee Beach. These arrangements are now in force, by order of the General Manager (CEO), until further notice.

Council’s decision was made following a Land and Environment Court ruling, which deemed the prior dog access arrangements at Narrawallee Beach to be of no force and effect (Decision date: 21 July 2023). You can read the Court judgement here.

The southern part of Narrawallee Beach from the Matron Porter Drive beach access track to Surfers Avenue steps is dog-prohibited, with no on-leash transit permitted.

Access to the timed off-leash area is via the Matron Porter Drive Beach access track only.

The new dog off-leash and dog-prohibited zonings will be enforced from the 27 November 2023, allowing a grace period of 3 weeks from the date of Council’s decision. Enforcement activities will continue as normal for all dog-prohibited areas north of the off-leash area on Narrawallee Beach and at Narrawallee Inlet Reserve. To see a map showing Narrawallee Beach dog access areas, please see the Dog Off-Leash Guide.

Long-term dog access solutions for Narrawallee Beach

Council is taking the following steps to determine a permanent solution for dog access at Narrawallee Beach:

• An external, suitably qualified consultant has been engaged to prepare an updated environmental assessment, known as a Review of Environmental Factors (REF), for the off-leash area at Narrawallee Beach. The REF is being undertaken in line with Council’s obligations under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). This process will enable Council to adequately consider environmental and social factors in determining permanent dog off-leash and dog-prohibited areas.
• The REF will be placed on public exhibition, for information only, in accordance with 171 (4) of the EP&A Regulation and as a matter of public interest. It is anticipated that this will occur in January 2024.
• Council staff will notify and consult with the community affected by any proposed changes to dog access arrangements at Narrawallee Beach that arise due to the REF findings and other investigations.
• The results of the consultation activities, REF findings, recommendations, and any other relevant matters, will be referred to the elected Council for final determination.
• Anticipated timing for a report recommending final determination for Narrawallee Beach dog access areas is March 2024.

This process will allow nearby residents and other stakeholders to provide their input to Council’s final decision on dog access solutions at Narrawallee Beach.

We will continue to publish further updates to this page. You can subscribe to receive updates directly to your inbox by providing your email address in the ‘Stay Informed’ box in the top right corner of the screen.

Around half the population of NSW’s Hooded Dotterels exist in the Shoalhaven, making the region a crucial breeding ground for this critically endangered shorebird.

Last season’s breeding data has shone a spotlight on our threatened shorebirds, prompting an appeal to locals and visitors to continue helping to protect shorebirds as the breeding season runs from August to March.

Council is working closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service to patrol shorebird nesting areas and provide education to the community.

Many of our shorebirds are threatened and their survival relies on our beaches for a safe nesting habitat. Shorebirds build their nests right on the sand and their eggs are very well camouflaged, making them hard to see.

There are simple things that beach goers, and particularly dog owners, can do to look after our shorebirds.

• Look out for nesting signs and stay away from roped-off nesting areas.
• Stick to the wet sand and give the birds plenty of space.
• Be mindful about taking your dog to the beach – always keep them on a leash, unless you’re on a designated off-leash beach.
• Keep your dog away from soft sand dune areas.

South Coast Shorebird Recovery Program Volunteers monitor and protect shorebird breeding habitats from August until March each year. Last season’s counts of nests and fledglings for the Shoalhaven were the best numbers recorded for many years:

• Hooded Dotterel = 10 breeding pairs and 12 fledglings (critically endangered).
• Little Tern = 166 breeding pairs and 200+ fledglings (endangered).
• Pied Oystercatcher = 32 breeding pairs and 20 fledglings (endangered).
• Sooty Oystercatcher = 43 breeding pairs and 7 fledglings (vulnerable).

Since the Shoalhaven coastline provides complementary breeding, foraging and sheltering habitat for threatened shorebirds, we are all urged to continue our efforts to avoid these species from becoming extinct.

This data shows that the measures being taken, along with the cooperation of residents and visitors, can make a difference. People are encouraged to continue to help protect our region’s precious shorebirds.

One of the threatened species, the Little Tern, migrates from eastern Asia in spring and summer to nest. The species is covered by international agreements for the protection of migratory birds – the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA), the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) and the Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA).

Beachgoers are reminded to check Council’s website for information on off-leash and prohibited areas. For more information on shorebirds, visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service webpage.

Council is preparing an environmental assessment, also known as a Review of Environmental Factors (REF), for each dog off-leash area within the Shoalhaven. The aim of these assessments is to evaluate the impact each dog off-leash area has on the community and the environment.

Dog off-leash area REFs are undertaken in accordance with Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). The REFs are informed by investigations that consider factors outlined under Section 171 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (EP&A Regulation). The dog off-leash area REFs are being published, for information only, in accordance with Section 171 (4) (of the EP&A Regulation), as a matter of public interest.

The REFs are being undertaken to help inform decision-making processes, including identifying mitigation measures for further consideration by Council.

Council will notify and consult with communities affected by proposed changes to any existing dog off-leash areas that arise due to REF findings and other investigations. The results of the consultation activities, REF findings, recommendations, and any other relevant matters, will be referred to the elected Council for final determination.

New signage will be installed at affected locations to reflect outcomes of this environmental due diligence process.

The Review of Environmental Factors – Dogs Off-leash Access – Huskisson Beach is now available for viewing.

Public exhibition of the draft Access Areas for Dogs Policy (the Policy) closed on 11 June 2023. The policy was on exhibition for 6 weeks. 491 people participated in the survey and 11 written submissions were received. Thank you to all who provided feedback.

860 social media responses were recorded including comments, shares, and links. The total engagement for this round of consultation was 1,362.

The responses received have now been reviewed. There is broad community support for the Policy - 40.5% of survey participants stated that they support the Policy, and 42.9% stated that they support the Policy with changes. 16.7% of respondents did not support the Policy. This means the proposed Policy enjoys general support from over 80% of respondents.

The Policy is currently being revised, taking your feedback into consideration, and will be submitted to Council for endorsement in the coming months. An Engagement Summary Report on the outcomes of the public exhibition period will also be submitted to Council.

The broad range of views on dog-controlled areas have been noted and registered. This includes requests for off-leash areas, requests for dog-prohibited areas and comments on signage, compliance, and enforcement. Your feedback will be included in the Engagement Summary Report to be submitted to Council and will inform future planning.

Thank you to everyone who participated for sharing your local knowledge and assisting Council to manage dog access areas in line with community expectations, environmental considerations, and legal requirements.

Further information about previous consultation activities and relating to the Policy can be found on the Access Areas for Dogs Policy Get Involved web page.

Thank you for your input. Community consultation is now closed.

Shoalhaven’s Access Areas for Dogs Policy has been revised to better manage dog access areas in line with community expectations, environmental considerations and relevant legislation.

Everyone is invited to have their say about the proposed draft policy by completing a short ONLINE SURVEY.

The Access Areas for Dogs Policy outlines the processes for deciding where dogs can and cannot go in the Shoalhaven, including where they are permitted to be off leash in accordance with state and federal legislation.

The draft policy will be on exhibition for 6 weeks from 1 May until 11 June 2023.

Background

By law, dogs are required to be on-leash when in a public place in Shoalhaven unless in a designated off-leash area or dog-prohibited area.

The Access Areas for Dogs Policy regulates where dogs are allowed to be off-leash and dog-prohibited areas defined by Council, in accordance with the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW) and other relevant legislation.

Community Consultation

Community consultation was undertaken in 2021, as one of the first steps in the policy review process. Nearly 1,400 people responded to the survey and many more submitted detailed written feedback.

The draft policy has been developed based on feedback received in 2021 and further investigations undertaken by Council staff.

What is wrong with the existing Dogs Policy?

The Access Areas for Dogs Policy needs to be updated to allow Council to manage dog access in line with community expectations and legal requirements.

What’s changed?

• To minimise confusion, terminology used within the proposed policy has been brought into line with terminology used in other relevant legislation (law).
• The existing policy includes a ‘static’ list of all off-leash and dog-prohibited areas defined by Council. This means new off-leash sites are only able to be considered during policy reviews (typically every four years).
• The list of off-leash and dog-prohibited sites has been removed and replaced with a set of provisions defining how Council will designate (process and determine) ‘off-leash’ and ‘dog-prohibited’ areas (ref. s3.7 & s3.8 of the draft policy).
• A list of off-leash and dog-prohibited sites will be maintained and made publicly available via Council’s website, guideline materials, and other channels.
• The proposed policy will enable Council to manage issues that may arise in off-leash or dog-prohibited areas, such as: shorebird nesting; biodiversity loss; and social and cultural matters (such as Indigenous heritage or conflicts arising from high-use). This approach is known as ‘adaptive management’, and will allow Council to be responsive to changes in conditions as they arise.
• Off-leash and dog-prohibited areas will be determined in accordance the proposed policy (including s3.8, which outlines what steps will be taken to facilitate public scrutiny and transparency).
• We’ve worked hard to develop a clear policy statement and clear objectives for the policy. This will provide clarity to all stakeholders about outcomes Council is seeking to achieve under the policy. The policy statement and objectives have been carefully calibrated in accordance with relevant legislation (law).
• A classification system has been established to clearly define three types of dog access areas in public places. The system is based on easily recognised conventions used in traffic lights (red, orange, and green).
• Signage and guidelines will be developed using the ‘traffic light’ system; RED for dog-prohibited areas, ORANGE for dog on-leash areas, and GREEN for off-leash areas.

Locals and visitors to Shoalhaven’s beaches are asked to help protect shorebirds during their breeding season from August to March.

During this time, the coastline is home to shorebirds who build their nests right on the sand and it is important to be aware and avoid disturbing them as they forage and breed during this critical time of their life cycle.

Breeding shorebirds and their eggs are very well camouflaged, making them hard to spot, but there are simple things that beach goers can do to look after our shorebirds:

• Look out for bird nesting signs and stay away from roped-off nesting areas.
• Stick to the wet sand and give the birds plenty of space.
• Be mindful about taking your dog to the beach. Always follow the signage in off-leash areas, keep your dog away from soft sand dune areas, and where required keep your dog on a leash.

Shoalhaven Council Rangers work closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service to patrol shorebird nesting areas and provide education to dog owners on the importance of staying away from dog-prohibited areas.

South Coast shorebird volunteers also monitor and protect shorebird breeding habitats from August until March each year.

Many of our nesting shorebirds are endangered and their survival relies on our beaches for a safe nesting habitat. By staying away from roped-off nesting areas and keeping our dogs under control we can help save these birds from extinction.

Beachgoers are reminded to check Council’s website for information on off-leash and prohibited areas and what penalties may apply.

For more information on shorebirds, visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service webpage: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/four-ways-to-share-the-shore.

Christmas is just around the corner and Shoalhaven City Council is encouraging anyone considering welcoming a new pet into their home to adopt don’t shop.

Christmas is a great time to adopt a pet as most families have time off and can dedicate this period for bonding and settling the pet into their new home.

There are currently 18 dogs and 14 cats at the Shelter waiting for their furever homes and their profiles can be viewed online at the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter Facebook page.

Adopting a pet from the Shelter is a rewarding and enriching experience for those keen to add a new member to their family. Make an appointment to come meet the animals that are desperate to be loved, and love in return.

it is important to remember that pets should not be given as Christmas gifts unless it is a decision made by the person receiving the pet. Animals require a lot of attention and care, and all involved need to be ready for that commitment.

For those that cannot commit to a pet full-time, you can still spread Christmas cheer by donating food, treats, or toys to the animals. You can drop something special under the Shelter’s Giving Tree from 9am – 4pm seven days a week.

For more information please contact the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter on 4429 3410.

Jodie Parnell - Team Supervisor, Shoalhaven Animal Shelter, Alfie - Team Mascot, Shoalhaven Animal Shelter, and Barney the rescue dog.

Thank you for your feedback. This consultation is now closed.

Council would like your feedback on new dog fenced off-leash areas at Burrill Lake Lions Park and Culburra Park.

Consultation on the Burrill Lake dog fenced off-leash area is to determine support for the identified location for delivery.

Council would like your feedback on a potential new dog fenced off-leash area at Culburra Park.

Surveys have been created to gauge community support for the dog fenced off-leash areas, the links are found below where you can have your say.

Burrill Lake Lions Park Dog FOLA Survey

Proposed Culburra Park Dog FOLA Survey

Please provide your feedback by 5pm, Monday, 1 August 2022.