Eurobodalla Council has stepped up ranger patrols in response to community feedback that more ranger presence was needed on local beaches.
Council rangers performed 2,384 patrols of Eurobodalla beaches from 1 December to 31 January after the community made it clear during Council’s Companion Animal Management Plan review last year that they wanted to see more rangers on local beaches.
Council’s environmental health coordinator Nathan Ladmore said the beach patrols would continue as Council prepared to roll out changes to dogs on beaches arrangements from Wednesday 1 May in line with the new plan.
“We’ll have extra rangers out on Eurobodalla beaches over the school holidays and Easter break,” Mr Ladmore said.
“Our strategy in patrols is to take an educative approach in the first instance – we want to inform people what the requirements are around dogs being under effective control – even in off leash areas – as well as picking up dog poo and complying with dog prohibited areas.
“In the December-January period, as many as 28 local beaches were patrolled in one day, and out of 2,384 patrols, 71 cautions were issued.
“Where dog owners repeatedly disobey the regulations they face being fined.”
Under the new arrangements from Wednesday 1 May, all timeshare areas across the shire will be on or off leash 24 hours, until Thursday 31 October.
When the warmer weather returns, from 1 November to 30 April, and use of our beaches increases, dogs will be prohibited during the day in timeshare areas from 9am to 5pm but permitted off leash outside these hours.
Eurobodalla Council is working on simple new signage at dog friendly, timeshare and dog prohibited areas and plans to install the signs in late April/early May.
In the meantime check out the changes for your patch by visiting www.esc.nsw.gov.au and searching ‘Companion Animal Management Plan’ or phone Council rangers on 4474 1019.
Above: There will be extra rangers patrolling Eurobodalla beaches over the Easter break. Pictured is Eurobodalla Council Ranger Mathew Harris.
