Bayside Council is to get a new beachfront dog off-leash area thanks to the efforts of nine-year-old Isabella Gale.
The Year 4 student at Brighton-Le-Sands Public School fronted Bayside Council last week on behalf of the local government area’s 15,000 dogs, their owners and even those who don’t like dogs.
The council was to consider a proposal for an off-leash area at Lady Robinsons Beach at Kyeemagh.
And Isabella, who is on her school’s debating team, urged the councillors to vote for more off-leash areas for Bayside Council in the interests of all dogs and their owners.
“I believe that dog parks are good for everyone – dogs, their owners and even those in our community who don’t like dogs,” Isabella said.
“They are good for dogs because they keep them fit and healthy. When my Cavoodle, Charlie doesn’t get enough exercise he gets a bit crazy and a bit jumpy,” she said.
“He also barks less when he’s had a lot of exercise. A dog that has had enough exercise, and provided with a place to play, is a happier dog.
“A dog that has had 20 minutes in a leash-free area is happier at a café, walking along the street or at home in a backyard or in an apartment,
“So a healthy, well-exercised dog is good for everyone in our community. Having off-leash areas to play are important because these people can just sit down and watch their dog, like some people do at the Sans Souci dog park.
“Another reason for a dog park at our end of the beach is that the people at Sans Souci have a really good dog park but it is too far for us to walk to.
“We think that everyone should have a dog park and if the people of Ramsgate and Sans Souci can have one why can’t Brighton and Kyeemagh?
“We now have 15,000 dogs in Bayside so it is really important to look after them and make sure they are all healthy and fit dogs.
“I encourage all Council members to vote tonight for more off-leash areas for Bayside Council in the interests of all dogs and their owners.”
Isabella’s arguments swayed the councillors to vote in favour of a new off-leash area at Lady Robinsons Beach at Kyeemagh.
Cr Ed McDougall, who has doggedly pursued the off-leash area urged council to approve Kyeemagh and defer another proposed area at Lane Studdert Reserve.
“This is a very small area of beach - about 150-metres - and there’s more than 15,000 dogs in the Bayside area who need this,” he said.
He said a survey showed that more than 65 percent of residents supported a new off-leash dog area.
His fellow councillors supported him and approved the off-leash area to operate from 4pm to 10am daily.
The plan includes $180,000 replacement of fencing to protect the dunes.
A report will come back to the council in six months on how the off-leash area is operating.
Following their decision, Mayor Bill Saravinovski, accompanied by Rockdale MP Steve Kamper, presented a Certificate of Recognition to Isabella for “her enthusiastic community commitment to helping improve Council’s off-leash dog parks for the benefit of all our residents.”
