Eurobodalla Shire Council Response and our next steps (Please read to the end)

We have received a response from the Eurobodalla Shire Council (ESC) and I am afraid the news for obtaining more flexibility in access times on our beaches during Spring and Summer is not encouraging. Firstly, the ESC has refused to accept our petition because it is was delivered in electronic format. The ESC Code of Meeting Practice insists that all petitions are in writing and contain actual signatures with nothing attached. Not accepting documentation electronically actually contravenes the NSW Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (which I have now brought that to Council’s attention). The second issue is that the details relating to dogs on beaches come under Council’s Companion Animals Management (CAM) Plan, which is not set down for review until 2019, unless Councillors choose to expedite an earlier review. Despite this petition, Councillors say “there no requirement to review the current Companion Animals Management Plan" and therefore until 2019, the current time share arrangements remain applicable. At this point in time, it would seem we will be going back to restricted times from 1st November till 30th April. It DEEPLY saddens me to also share with you there are some members of the community who hate dogs and do not want dogs on beaches at all - EVER…..and these people are very vocal, making constant phone calls and sending regular letters to Council, complaining about dogs on beaches. However, we do have two avenues for action and I encourage you to take at least one (preferably both) of these: 1) To combat the dog haters writing to Council, I really do need each and EVERY one of you to personally email the Mayor and ALL Councillors. Yes I am serious! Each letter needs to be personal. You needto share YOUR story. Council need to understand there are real people with real hearts behind these requests (email addresses below). 2) I encourage you talk to your friends and families and invite them to join you to meet in person with one or more of the Councillors. They need to see our faces and hear our voices IN PERSON. I will certainly be doing that and I will report back to you to let you know how that goes, with each Councillor, so that we know where we have support (or not) within Council going forward. Talk soon. Woof ESCC Email Addresses: clranthony.mayne@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrphil.constable@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrpatrick.mcginlay@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrmaureen.nathan@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrrob.pollock@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrjack.tait@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrlindsay.brown@esc.nsw.gov.au; clrjames.thomson@esc.nsw.gov.au; mayor@esc.nsw.gov.au;