Dogs running off-leash on Washhouse Beach and into Kattang Nature Reserve are having adverse impacts on wildlife, according to Hastings Birdwatchers.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has a draft proposal to prohibit dogs on the section of beach between the breakwall and Kattang Nature Reserve in Dunbogan.
Community consultation has ended for the proposal and it will now proceed to the July ordinary council meeting.
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Hastings Birdwatchers member, Friends of Kattang member and Camden Head resident Peter West has been collecting data and sightings of birdlife in the area monthly since 2005.
Mr West has recorded sightings of critically endangered listed Eastern Curlew, endangered Little Tern and Pied Oystercatchers as well as vulnerable listed Bar-tailed Godwit, Sooty Oystercatcher, Eastern Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagles at the beach.
"Since I've lived here I have been taking data of the reserve. Obviously bird numbers change depending on whether it's summer or winter and such," he said.
"On the reserve I don't notice a great amount of changes, but down here on the beach there is quite a lot of differences. The oyster-catchers aren't coming here so often, other birds that use the beach are now occasional visitors.
"We know from studies on other nature reserves that dogs drive away other animals. This is a nature reserve, it's a place for nature and dogs don't have a place in nature.
"There would have to be a regular survey of the beach and behind the beach to answer the important question about dogs and their impact on this beach."
A Camden Head resident neighbouring the beach, who wished to remain anonymous, said the community has had a shot at an off-leash dog beach and blown it.
"We have previously found a dead Tawny Frogmouth owl and dead chicks, they'd been torn to shreds. So with tears we put two little chick bodies and a dead adult in the bin," they said.
"We have taken it upon ourselves to tell people nicely when they are mistakenly in the reserve and have received hostility back. Ninety per cent of people we spoke to knew there was a limit but let their dog loose anyway.
"People had a portion of beach but had no self-regulation or self-control, and didn't respect the reserves boundaries. There's no one to blame but ourselves because we didn't self-regulated."
Concerned residents have signed a 645-strong petition against the proposal, while a new petition created by Friends of Kattang to support the council proposal has been signed by more than 87 people.
A report to the May council meeting said council and National Parks and Wildlife Service received many complaints about this section of Washhouse Beach.
The report said it was confusing for dog owners to stay within the small off-leash area in between two prohibited areas at Pilot Beach and Kattang Nature Reserve.
The proposed change would reduce sign requirements, reduce confusion and enable the National Parks and Wildlife Service to implement various management programs, the report said.
For more information about the new petition supporting the proposal visit https://me.getup.org.au/petitions/keep-wash-house-beach-for-nature
For more information about the petition opposing the council proposal visit https://www.change.org/p/port-macquarie-hastings-council-make-wash-house-beach-dog-friendly?redirect=false