Dogs will be granted access to an ocean beach on the Northern Beaches for the first time after Council approved a 12-month trial at Mona Vale this week..
The trial will permit dogs off-leash on the southern end of Mona Vale Beach in the morning and evening, commencing 14 October 2025 until 13 October 2026. Access begins at 5:30am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm during daylight saving time, and 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm during Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Dogs remain prohibited on all other beaches including Mona Vale’s northern end and in the southern end outside of the prescribed hours.
The trial will require more than $50,000 spent on fencing to protect vegetation areas and dunes, as well as $7,000 in signage, dog waste bags and dispensers.
There are 30 off-leash dog areas in the local government area, only four of which have access to a body of water. Half of these are heavily polluted. None provide access to the ocean.
This is what spurred Michele Robertson, of Pittwater Unleashed, to fight for access some 11 years ago. The idea was first flagged over 20 years ago. She told councillors that the issue had overwhelming public support and had been subjected to extensive reports, planning and consultation. She said it was well overdue after thousands of dog owners had been campaigning for decades for some timed access to ocean beaches, describing it as “simple, reasonable and deeply rooted in community spirit.”
“Picture again, that calm morning with a handful of people walking with their dogs, connected to nature and each other, that is the future that’s within your reach tonight,” she said.
All councillors voted in favour of the long-awaited trial except for four. Three Greens councillors cited they had been elected on an environmental mandate and had concerns that environmental studies were not thorough enough, and independent Manly councillor Candy Bingham, who was strongly opposed to “permitting dogs on our pristine beaches.”
Cr Candy Bingham was most concerned with how it affects the amenity for beachgoers, describing an unpleasant experience at a dog beach in Byron Bay. “As I walked down the bush track and into the beac
h, I could already smell the impact of dogs and their urine. Doggy bags were strewn in the bushes. I reached the beach at a time that no dogs were allowed only to find dogs were running rampant. Running rampant along the entire beach.
“Remember dogs can’t read, so they totally ignored the boundary lines. I settled in what was supposed to be in a no dogs allowed space at a time when they weren’t allowed anywhere on the beach, but unfortunately, soon found myself with a number of dogs smelling my gear, one unfortunately lifted his leg.”
Northern Beaches Council today stated the initiative balances “the needs of beachgoers and the local environment.”
“The decision follows a thorough environmental assessment and extensive community consultation where the feedback was overwhelmingly supportive of an off-leash area in this location for responsible pet access to the beach,” the Council said.
“This trial is about finding the right balance through clear guidelines, strong safeguards, and ongoing monitoring,” Mayor Sue Heins stated.
“This is an opportunity for our community to demonstrate how much we value and can share our open spaces responsibly. We will be closely monitoring the trial both through on-site observations and observations of the community,” Mayor Heins said.
Further information, including a map of the trial area and details of the adopted Plan of Management, will be available in the coming weeks on the Council website.
