Changes approved to animal access at popular reserve

Sunshine Coast Council yesterday (December 14) approved an amended subordinate local law which changes the way our community moves about with their animals at Point Cartwright.

Under the new subordinate local law amendments, dogs will be allowed on-leash at Half Moon Bay, open-spaced areas of Point Cartwright Reserve, Buddina Beach and La Balsa Park.

To balance the needs of our community, environmental protection considerations and being respectful of cultural heritage, Council endorsed the decision to incorporate a second, temporary, dog off-leash area on part of the northern beach commonly known as ‘Carties Beach’, between 4pm and 8am on Monday to Friday.   

Dogs will be permitted on-leash in this area of Carties Beach at other times on Monday to Friday – but dogs will be prohibited from this area at all times on weekends.

This arrangement is temporary and will be in effect until 30 June 2025.

The amendment is in response to community feedback and allows Council time to prepare and consult with the community on a broader Sunshine Coast wide Dog Exercise Areas Plan.

Due to the high number of people visiting the area, dogs will be prohibited from sections near the rocky foreshore, the dunes along Buddina Beach, sections of Point Cartwright Reserve, and ‘Carties Beach’ on weekends.

These recommendations support Council’s endorsement of the Point Cartwright Reserve and La Balsa Park Master Plan in August, which establishes new animal management requirements at Point Cartwright Reserve.

Proposed local law amendments:

• Pathway from La Balsa Park along Half Moon Bay to the northern beach area:

The existing timed (4pm to 8am) “dog off-leash” area to be changed to “dog on-leash” at all times.

• Northern Beach 196 to 196T (new temporary access until 30 June 2025):

The existing timed (4pm to 8am) “dog off-leash” area amended to only Mondays to Fridays inclusive; and changed to “dog on-leash” at all other times; and dogs prohibited in this area on weekends.

• Northern Beach from 196T onto and around rocky foreshore:

The existing timed (4pm to 8am) “dog off-leash” area to be changed to a “dogs-prohibited” area.

• Eastern rocky foreshore onto Buddina Beach:

The existing “dog off-leash at all times” to be changed to “dogs-prohibited”.

• Point Cartwright Reserve

The existing timed (4pm to 8am) “dog off-leash” area to be changed to “dogs on-leash at all times” in some areas and “dogs-prohibited” in other areas.

The existing “off-leash at all times” area to be changed to “dogs on-leash at all times” in some areas, and “dogs-prohibited” in other areas.

• Buddina Beach

The existing “dog off-leash at all times” area to remain in place.

• Dunes along Buddina Beach

Will be “dogs-prohibited” areas. Access to the pathways and beach access to be “dogs on-leash”.

• La Balsa Park

The neighbouring La Balsa Park remains a dog on-leash area.

Sunshine Coast Council Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said community engagement had formed a key part of Council’s local law-making process.

“We really appreciate and thank everyone in our community who took the time to provide further feedback on the animal management changes at Point Cartwright,” Cr Natoli said.  

“Community engagement took place between September 25 and October 30, 2023, and we received 1718 submissions – this is the greatest number of submissions received by Council for a local law-making consultation process since the Council was established on 15 March 2008.

“After taking into consideration all relevant information to inform the local law-making process - including the Master Plan objectives; the feedback from the community; consideration of Council’s different policies; and undertaking a Human Rights assessment) – a revised amendment was supported to allow a section of ‘Carties Beach’ to remain a timed dog off-leash area temporarily.

“This arrangement seeks to strike a balance between reasonable community expectations, environmental preservation and long-term sustainability.”

The Subordinate Local Law Amendment will commence on gazettal, which is expected to occur on Friday, December 22, 2023.

New signage will be installed to inform our community of the changes and Council officers will undertake an education program to support the community in understanding the new changes.

To review the outcomes of the community engagement, please visit Council’s Have Your Say page.

To view the master plan please visit Council’s Point Cartwright and La Balsa Park Master Plan.