UPDATE: Harsh restrictions of dogs on Eurobodalla Beaches

Dear fellow dog lovers. The harsh restrictions on taking your dog to a Eurobodalla beach will start again at the end of this month and will last for SIX months!!! We need to step the pressure to have the rules about dogs on beaches relaxed in the Eurobodalla. I have just sent my email to Council in response to the draft “Recreational and Open Space Strategy” (see copy below) which is a key strategy that affects our ability to enjoy the Eurobodalla Beaches with our dogs. Now we REALLY need your help!!! IT WILL TAKE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. Please cut/paste/edit as you wish from the letter below and email to the Erobodalla Council addresses shown. Every individual, personal email, WILL make a difference!! ________________________________________________________________________ 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; council@esc.new.gov.au, catherine.dale@esc.nsw.gov.au ___________________________________________________________________________ Dear Dr Dale, Mayor Innes, and all Councillors of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, I wish to make a submission on the Recreational and Open Spaces Strategy currently on public exhibition. I noted the following statistics from the draft strategy: • P99. The third highest barrier to using open spaces in the Eurobodalla was “visitors can not take their dogs. • P177. 50.7% of respondents value a place to exercise and 35.7% valued being able to take their dog to open spaces. • P176. 42.7% of people said they take their dog when they visit an open space • P175. 83.4% of people said they recreate or play sport at the beach. • P174. 67.1% of people participate in walking in open spaces • P10. Interestingly, places to take one’s dog was consistently mentioned throughout the community engagement process. One in three respondents liked that they could take their dog with them when visiting open space, while a quarter said that there were limited places to take their dog. This trend remained consistent across most planning areas. Attendees at the workshops believed that there should be more dog-friendly places, however, many were in disagreement if they should be fenced, unfenced, off-leash and/or on-leash. Support for Council’s timeshare was also divided. I am astonished and extremely disappointed that this strategy seems to have failed to join the dots given these statistical findings by consultants. I noticed there are NO priority actions reflecting the above even though it is very clear that people of the Eurobodalla want increased opportunity to walk their dogs on the beach. This MUST change to truly reflect the wishes of the people, as reflected in the research and workshops. Therefore, I respectfully ask that the Eurobodalla Shire Council change the timeshare restrictions dates for dogs on beaches, to Easter holidays and from 1 December to 31st January, to reflect the only period heavy use of Eurobodalla beaches. Yours Sincerely Name Suburb and Postcode