Dogs in the Public Domain - Investigations, Trials and Projects

Over the last 12-months, Council trialled Narrawallee Beach's Off-leash Dog Area with extended operating hours during the warmer months and an on-leash access from Surfers Avenue. The report on the outcomes of the trial was presented to Shoalhaven City Council’s Strategy and Assets 9 February meeting. Council resolved at the meeting to;

1. Accept the summary of the community feedback and outcome of the amended Dog Off-leash area 12-month trial on Narrawallee Beach for information.

2. Adopt the trial provisions, with the following amendments:

a. Amend the dates from:

i. 1 October to 30 April to Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time, being 4pm–8am, and

ii. 1 May to 30 September to Australian Eastern Standard Time, being 3pm–10am.

b. Move the southern boundary of the off-leash area to immediately south of the most southern Narrawallee Inlet Reserve entrance and prohibit access to the dog off-leash area on the southern part of Narrawallee Beach, including Victor Avenue stairs.

c. Remove the 10m wide access way from Surfers Avenue.

3. Erect new signs at the various access points at Narrawallee Beach in accordance with the endorsed direction.

4. As part of the Review of the Access Areas for Dogs Policy, subject to community consultation, amend the dates of other Shoalhaven timed off-leash areas to be consistent with Part 2 (a) (i). (Minutes available on the Agendas and Minutes web page)

New signs in relation to the off-leash area will now be prepared in accordance with the resolution, and erected at Narrawallee Beach.

Over the last 12-months, the Narrawallee Beach Off-leash Dog Area’s extended operating hours during the warmer months and an on-leash access from Surfers Avenue were trialled. This trial has now concluded and the report on the outcomes and a way forward is going to Council’s Strategy and Assets meeting on Tuesday 9 February 2021

The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:00pm and will be held in the Council Chambers at Council’s Administration Building. While the Council Chambers are currently closed to the public, the meeting can be viewed live on the Council Meetings web page.

A copy of the Narrawallee Beach Off-leash Dog Area Trial Report is available on the Agendas and Minutes web page.  

For information about how to make a deputation at the meeting on this matter, visit Council's Deputations web page.

Council recently completed a number of improvements to both Clifton Park and the Dog Off-Leash area within Clifton Park, Sanctuary Point. These include;

• New shelter and wheelchair accessible double BBQ
• Directional fingerboard signage outside and within the park
• Dog agility equipment within the dog off-leash area. This equipment was constructed and installed by the Sanctuary Point Mens Shed. The Mens Shed was a great help with completing and installing the embellishments.
• Installation of a dog ‘Rehydration Station’ within the dog off-leash area.
• Installation of a dog waste bag dispenser outside of the dog off-leash area.

The above improvements cost a total of $42,141.91.

Council has asked community members to play an important role in the review of the Policy and Guidelines. The Community Working Group will work closely with Council staff to provide meaningful, representative input and feedback on the operation, suitability, and safety of existing dog areas and signage, the potential for new dog areas, the adequacy of the current documents, and more.

The Community Working Group needs to be representative of the widest-possible span of community interests including:

• women and men
• dog owners
• non-dog owners
• business people, including Tourism operators
• environmental protection authorities
• sporting groups
• people with a disability
• the elderly
• any other person, or group, not identified in this list.

Council is seeking nominations from seven community members from each of the three Council Wards. To find your Ward visit the NSW Electoral Commission(External link) website.

Expressions of interest have now closed.

To find out more about the working group visit the Review of Accessible Areas For Dog Policy Get Involved web page.

On 12 December 2020 at Council’s Strategy and Assets Committee meeting, Council resolved (MIN20.916 ):

That Council:

1. Endorse the provision of a new fenced dog off-leash park at Lions Park, Burrill Lake and fund the fencing of the off-leash dog area from the existing budget allocation for dog off-leash area embellishments.

2. Amend the dog off-leash area at Jerry Bailey Oval, Shoalhaven Heads in accordance with the new fenced area and increase hours of operation to 24-hour dog off-leash access.

3. Defer investigations of the following sites as off-leash locations:

a. A dog off-leash beach south of Ulladulla and north of Bawley Point

b. Further investigation of extension of the Seven Mile Beach off-leash area to the north, including:

i. Seek community feedback in relation to the northern extension; and

ii. Seek advice from National Parks & Wildlife Services and other relevant Government stakeholders.

Council staff will now undertake the actions required by parts 1 and 2 of the above resolution.

The construction of the West Street fenced dog park in Greenwell Point is completed.

The addition of the latest off-leash area in Greenwell Point was funded, to the tune of $35,000, by Shoalhaven City Council.

There are now 24 off-leash dog areas in the Shoalhaven where residents and visitors can exercise their dogs.

The off-leash dog park is fully fenced with a water tap.

Of the 24 off-leash areas, 15 are accessible 24/7 and 9 are timed dog off-leash areas.

The dog off-leash areas in the Shoalhaven are a combination of public open spaces including beaches, parks; and fenced areas to ensure our community and their pets have access to a wide range of dog off-leash facilities.

Image: Local residents and members of the Greenwell Point Dog Park Committee with their dogs at the Fenced Off-leash Green Point Dog Park.

In response to local community petitions to establish new dog off-leash areas in both Shoalhaven Heads and Burrill Lake/Dolphin Point, Council conducted surveys in both areas, inviting all the community in the two areas to nominate their preferred location for new fenced and non-fenced dog off-leash spaces.

All of the feedback has been included in the recommendation in a report that is expected to be considered at Council’s Strategy and Assets Committee meeting on Tuesday 8^th December 2020.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:00pm and will be held in the Council Chambers at Council’s Administration Building. While the Council Chambers and meeting are closed to the public, the meeting can be viewed live on the Council Meetings web page.

A copy of the report will be available on the Friday prior to the meeting on the Agendas and Minutes web page.  

For information about how to make a deputation at the meeting on the matter visit the Deputations web page on Council’s website.

Thank you for your input. This survey is now closed.

Interested dog owners in the Dolphin Point and Burrill Lake area recently petitioned Council to establish a new dog off leash area in the locality. In response, in August this year Council resolved (MIN20.531 See full details below) to investigate the suitability of all locations across Dolphin Point and Burrill Lake for fenced dog off-leash areas and to do that by consulting with petition organisers, Ulladulla Forum, land owners, Paws4Shoalhaven and broader community members and groups to seek feedback on preferred locations for fenced dog off leash areas. Council also resolved to allow everyone the opportunity to suggest locations between Ulladulla Harbour and Cormorant Beach for consideration by Council.

MIN20.531

That Council:

1. Accept the report for information.

2. Council undertake further investigations into the suitability of all locations across Dolphin Point and Burrill Lake for fenced dog off leash areas.

3. Consult with petition organisers, Ulladulla Forum, land owners, Paws4Shoalhaven and broader community members and groups to seek feedback on locations for fenced dog off leash areas. As part of the consultation with all groups allow the opportunity to suggest locations between Ulladulla Harbour and Cormorant beach for consideration for dog off leash areas.

4. Following consultation and investigations prepare a report back to Council.

We now invite you to submit your preferred location so that it can be considered along with all others in the required report back to Council.

Shoalhaven City Council has been working closely with the Greenwell Point community to deliver a new fenced dog off leash area following Council’s resolution to formalise the area as a dog off-leash park.

Works will commence on Friday 25 September on this exciting project. The works include installation of fencing, signage, bin and bike rack. The off-leash area will be available for use by residents and visitors once the construction work has been completed.

Council staff have engaged with Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum to review the off-leash Dog areas in Shoalhaven Heads. This will include the extension of current off leash areas, proposal for new hours of off leash areas and for new fenced areas. To complement the review, a survey has been created to attain a baseline of information about dog ownership and subsequent utilisation of open space at Shoalhaven Heads.

The survey is open from 31 July to 31 August 2020.

Link to survey