A popular off leash dog beach at Clontarf’s Sandy Bay will be reduced to a thin slice of sand and grass after resident action forced Council’s hand.
Manly Observer understands that some residents of the Clontarf cul-de-sac, who were unsupportive of the area being used as an off-leash dog park, discovered that, technically, the area below the watermark at Sandy Bay was not council land and never authorised for off-leash use when the former Manly Council designated the area more than 16 years ago.
Only a 2,500 square metre strip of sand and grass remains available for off-leash dog use. The area below the watermark – which is a much larger area and where the dogs most often play – is no longer considered a permissible area.
Original off-leash area (red line with no hard line on beach):
Area now available for off-leash dog use (within black line only):
A long and likely costly approvals process will be required to get necessary authorisation from NSW government should Council work to reinstate the space used by locals and their dogs, officially, since 2008, but in practice long before.
A Council spokesperson said they had no choice but to amend the approved area.
“On learning of the discrepancy between our signage and a resolution of the former Manly Council, we were required to amend the signage to reflect the resolution. We know this will disappoint some of the dog owners who use the area, however it’s important the signage reflects the area’s approved usage.
“Not changing the signage could expose Council to legal action and be a costly result for ratepayers.”
“Not changing the signage could expose Council to legal action and be a costly result for ratepayers, which is a key factor in the action taken to amend the signage.”
The previous signage showed a map with an off-leash area extending below the mean high water mark at Sandy Bay. The signage has now or will soon be updated to reflect the off-leash area resolved by the former Manly Council – a designated area only above the mean high water mark.
A copy of the revised map can be found on the website here.
Asked if approvals could now be sought to reinstate the existing area, the spokesperson said, “To establish an off-leash dog area, it would require various environmental and other assessments, potentially similar to those being pursued for a trial at south Mona Vale Beach. As the land is not owned by Council (but is owned by TfNSW), there are also additional considerations.
“We continue to seek opportunities to provide areas for dogs to exercise while balancing impacts on residents nearby.”
Council says rangers have enforcement powers in relation to land below the mean high water mark, despite it not being their land.
