A bitter neighbourhood battle has broken out between multi-million pound seafront property owners and dog walkers, with the council caught in the middle.
Following legal action brought by residents who own properties valued at up to $12 million overlooking pristine Narrawallee Beach north of Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast, the council limited the area of sand dog walkers could use but has since faced a furious backlash.
Dogs will now only be allowed off-leash for a limited period of time along a central 500-metre section of sand, are banned from the main beach stairs and must use a forest path to access the coastal strip, while the northern and southern ends of the beach will remain dog-free.
Those advocating the restrictions say they have been attacked by dogs on the beach, who have also chased their children, left feces and urinated on railing posts. They also claim that lenient dog owners only mistreated the dogs when they objected to this behaviour.
Peter Murray, a beachfront homeowner and member of the 13-member Narrawallee Beach Environment Group, which opposes dogs, told the Sydney Morning Herald that an off-leash pitbull terrier attacked him and scratched his big toe.
When he told the dog’s owner off, he was told: “It’s a dog beach, my friend.”
“The council has lost control of dogs in the community. We are seeing the worst on our beach,” Murray told the BBC. The Sydney Morning Herald.
He said dogs from across the local district walk on the beach and claims up to 130,000 a year use the sand – a figure dog enthusiasts consider absurd.
Dog walkers hold a Save Our Steps rally to complain about being denied main access to Narrawallee Beach on the NSW South Coast
It is said that 130,000 dogs use Narrawallee beach every year, a figure that pet lovers consider absurd.
Shoalhaven Council Mayor Amanda Findley also said she avoids morning walks around Narrawallee because there are too many dogs.
However, Councillor Patricia White is leading the fight on behalf of pet owners and is set to challenge the restrictions at the next council meeting.
“We have a really elitist minority group who just want the beach to themselves,” Cr Martin, secretary of advocacy group Paws 4 Shoalhaven, told the Herald.
‘I saw a lady brandishing a stick, threatening to hit any dog that came near her… There are people hiding in the bushes with cameras, trying to catch people breaking the rules.
“We have $12 million homes in this area, and neighbors are picking on each other, and it’s really destroying the neighborhood,” Ms. White added.
Dog walkers held a Save Our Stairs rally and protest earlier this month to demand they be allowed primary access to the beach and speakers included Cr White and former state Liberal MP for the area, Andrew Constance.
The dispute is playing out in the comments sections of the Paws 4 Shoalhaven Facebook page.
Properties overlooking the pristine Narrawallee Beach on the New South Wales South Coast can cost up to $12 million
The council now only allows dogs to be walked on a 500-metre stretch of sand and they can only be off-leash for a set period of time.
“As a homeowner on Victor Ave, I totally reject the views of the Narrawallee Beach Environment Group in this article in SMH today,” one person posted on Saturday after the paper covered the issue.
“This shows what a narrow and selfish group they are!”
However, one dog owner responded by admitting the group was right.
“If more dog owners were responsible, there wouldn’t be this fuss,” the comment read.
“Unfortunately, we have to cater to the 1% of dog owners who ruin the lives of the rest of us. If not everyone can do the right thing, then that’s a problem for all dog owners.
‘We should all be able to walk our dogs on the beach, but we can’t because someone doesn’t care about training their dogs properly or doesn’t like picking up after them or, in extreme cases, because their dogs attack other animals or people.
‘Deal with it and walk your dog somewhere else.’
This provoked numerous denials.
“I have been walking my dog on this beach for many years and have NEVER had any issues with aggressive dogs or irresponsible owners so I’m not sure what you base this claim on,” reads one response.
“Who are these dog haters and why are they on this planet?” another responded.
“With all due respect, you’ve obviously never seen the pure joy of a dog running on a beach,” another replied.
‘Yes, dogs love walking with their owners, but some places provoke a greater reaction.
“It’s obvious. Please do not use the argument that the majority of people should be penalized for the non-compliance of a minority.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Shoalhaven City Council for comment on the beach management plan.
