DAILY walks along the beach are out for Camden Head locals on nearby Wash House Beach. And, according to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, this has been the way of things for five years.
Camden Head resident Ron Shewring said, until recently, signage to the beach stated that dog owners were permitted to walk their pets on a leash along the beach between 4pm and 8am below the high tide mark - ie on the firm sand area. A week ago he noticed the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council sign at Wash House Beach had been altered to simply read: “No Dogs”.
“What’s changed?” asked the dog owner and Camden Head local.
“I’m amazed we have not had any information on why this has happened.
“A few years ago we worked with National Parks, the council and Maritime Authorities about walking dogs along the beach and it was decided we could walk between specified times.”
Mr Shewring said he canvassed the local area asking fellow dog walkers if they had heard of the change and all were surprised at the news.
Local vet Gavin Rippon said he was also surprised when clients phoned him about the sign banning dogs on Wash House Beach.
“It’s crazy,” he said.
“The people who walk their dogs on that beach are predominantly Camden Head people, some are elderly and don’t drive and it’s very therapeutic to walk on the beach.
“If this was a decision put through by the council so long ago, it’s amazing that the only vet in Laurieton didn’t know until now.”
A spokesperson from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council said the policy on dog friendly areas was last amended in April 2005 and shows dog were prohibited on Wash House Beach, due to the National Parks and Wildlife Service changing their boundaries.
At Wash House Beach the boundary change meant dogs would have been exercising on National Parks’ land at Kattang Nature Reserve which is prohibited under State legislation.
The spokesperson said the council apologised for any confusion due to the very late change to their sign.
However, the Camden Haven Courier has discovered in May 2005 then-councillors Daphne Johnston, Adam Prussing and Rob Nardella successfully rescinded the motion.
It was resolved: “That the matter be deferred pending discussions with council and (names an officer) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.” (Item 18 Hastings Council minutes May 30, 2005)
In the Camden Haven Courier, August 2005, Cr Johnston said there had still been “no word back about the dogs on Wash House Beach below the high tide mark.” She also mentioned a meeting with the “ranger” who was “to put in a report”.
The Camden Haven Courier can find no mention of the issue in council meeting documents since May 2005.
The Camden Haven Courier has learned a fine of $330 was issued just days ago to dog owners at Wash House Beach.
The Camden Haven Courier has put the above information to council.
“Council will now investigate the issue further and will review any infringement notice issues. No further infringement notices will be given until the investigation is completed,” the spokesperson said.
The council spokesperson said dogs are permitted on a leash at Grants Beach North Haven from the carpark north for 200m, Dunbogan Beach (from the southern boundary of Kattang Nature Reserve to the Seaview Avenue beach), Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills (from Duchess Creek north for a distance of 200 metres), Cathie Beach, Lake Cathie (from Molong Street beach access point to Middle Rock).
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