Shire Councillors at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday 26 October resolved to accept recommended changes to Dog Exercise Areas (DEAs) and Dog Prohibited Areas previously advertised.

Council accepted recommendations to create four new Dog Exercise Areas within the Shire. The following places are specified within the Shire, to be Dog Exercise Areas under s31(3A) of the Dog Act 1976:

1. Portion of Symphony Waters, Cowaramup – Reserve number: R45185.
2. Portion of Crellin Place, Rapids Landing – Reserve number: R50413.
3. Portion of Bottlebrush Drive, Brookfield – Reserve number: R48184.
4. Portion of Farmhouse Place, Riverslea – Reserve number: R4539.

The addition of these areas brings the total number of DEAs within the Shire to 21. The proposed changes are the result of a recent major review into DEA’s, with 479 community members completing the ‘Let’s Talk About Dogs’ survey open for comment in June/July this year, with dog owners making up 87% of survey respondents.

Margaret River and Cowaramup

The Council voted in support of a fence being installed at the Brookfield Reserve DEA in response to community calls for an additional enclosed off-lead area in Margaret River.

Whilst Nippers Oval within the Gloucester Park Precinct and Cowaramup Oval DEAs will be retained, dog owners are strongly urged to be extra vigilant in picking up their dog poo or risk the ovals no longer being allowed for use as off-lead dog exercise areas.

An update on the level of compliance at Nippers and Cowaramup Oval DEAs, with the ability to revoke the DEA in the event of significant non-compliance, will occur as a part of the interim 2023 DEA review.

Prevelly and Gnarabup

A recommendation was accepted to retain part of the existing DEA at Prevelly Beach, however the Dog Prohibited Area, north of White Elephant café, will be extended by approximately 140m north to Georgette Way beach access footpath. This amendment is to provide improved delineation of where people can take dogs onto the beach. Clearer signage will be installed at this location to assist dog owners.

Dogs will still be able to enjoy the 300m off-lead area on Back Beach all year round, however, the section south towards Gas Bay that was trialled as a seasonal Dog Prohibited area to Gas Bay is now a Dog Prohibited Area for dogs all year round.

Augusta

Recommendations made on dog management and specified dog areas in Flinders Bay/Albany Terrace and the greater Augusta locality (including Molloy) will be reviewed and undergo further in-depth interim community consultation in 2023, following consultation with surrounding residents and the local community.

Witchcliffe

The Witchcliffe community will be consulted next year about their local Dog Exercise Areas, once public open space in the new Witchcliffe development areas are vested to the Shire.

Rural Leashing

Council accepted the recommendation that all road reserves within the district of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River excluding any portion inside a townsite boundary or specified as a Dog Exercise Area or Dog Prohibited Area be classified as Rural Leashing areas.

All recreation reserves under the care, control, or management of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River excluding any portion inside a townsite boundary or specified as a Dog Exercise Area or Dog Prohibited Area are also classified as Rural Leashing.

Shire of Augusta Margaret River Council will consider a number of proposed changes to Dog Exercise Areas (DEAs) at the 26 October 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting.

The proposed changes are the result of a recent major review into DEAs, with 479 community members completing the ‘Let’s Talk About Dogs’ survey open for comment in June/July this year, with dog owners making up 87% of survey respondents.

If accepted, proposed changes include the creation of four new DEAs across the Shire at the following locations:

• within a portion of Symphony Waters – Cowaramup;
• Crellin Place - Rapids Landing;
• Bottlebrush Drive – Brookfield;
• Farmhouse Place - Riverslea.

Community feedback included a clear call for more off-lead DEAs near town sites, with 192 comments asking for more Dog Exercise Areas within the Shire. Waste bags, bins and signage will be made available at all these new proposed DEA’s

Margaret River and Cowaramup

A fence is proposed to be installed at the Brookfield Reserve DEA in response to community calls for an additional enclosed off-lead area in Margaret River.

Whilst Nippers Oval within the Gloucester Park Precinct and Cowaramup Oval DEAs will be retained, dog owners are strongly urged to be extra vigilant picking up their dog poo or risk the ovals no longer being allowed for use as off-lead dog exercise areas.

Prevelly and Gnarabup

A recommendation is proposed to retain part of the existing DEA at Prevelly Beach, however the Dog Prohibited Area, north of White Elephant café, will be extended by approximately 140m north to Georgette Way beach access footpath. This amendment is being proposed to provide improved delineation of where people can take dogs onto the beach. Clearer signage will be installed at this location to assist dog owners.

Dogs will still be able to enjoy the 300m off-lead area on Back Beach all year round, however the section south towards Gas Bay that was trialled as a seasonal Dog Prohibited Area is proposed to be off bounds for dogs all year round.

Augusta

Changes are being recommended at Flinders Bay Beach due to ongoing community complaints. Under the proposal, dogs will be prohibited on either side of Flinders Bay Holiday Park. The DEA in front of Flinders Bay Holiday Park will be retained whilst the holiday park is dog friendly. Access to this DEA will be strictly through the holiday park, which all residents can pass through.

The start of the DEA next to Albany Terrace towards The Colourpatch Café has been amended and will now begin in line with Bussell Street.

Survey facts

Of the 479 community members who participated in the DEA community consultation, 96% of participants live within the Shire and 87% of the survey participants owned a dog.

The review focused on key DEAs and Dog Prohibited Areas of concern highlighted during the initial consultation in 2021. The areas of focus were:

• Shire wide consultation on the effect of the seasonal trial Dog Prohibited Area in Gnarabup;
• Assessment of the DEA at Nippers Oval and the provision of a dedicated DEA in the Gloucester Park Precinct;
• Assessment of the DEA at Cowaramup Oval;
• Assessment of the need for DEAs in other parts of the Shire.