Is another ‘dogs on beaches’ battle looming for Bass Coast?

IF YOU thought, after marathon rounds of community consultation involving almost 1000 people, that the Bass Coast Shire Council had put the issue of its Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29 to bed when it adopted its plan in October last year, think again.

It appears that one of the matters raised in the lead up to the adoption of the plan, the welfare of wombats on the foreshore above San Remo’s only off-leash beach, is still very much a live issue.

At the annual meeting of the Phillip Island Conservation Society on Sunday, March 29, at which a new committee was elected, reference is made of “the dire situation with the San Remo wombats”.

“Other topics covered included Eve Kelly telling us about the dire situation with the San Remo wombats, with which PICS has recently become involved again,” said PICS in its report of the meeting.

It follows a letter from PICS to the council, at Ms Kelly’s encouragement, calling for off-leash dogs to be banned from being exercised or walked on San Remo’s only off-leash beach, Foots Beach, accessible from Back Beach Road, due to interactions between dogs and the wombats.

Reportedly, the council recently dismissed the suggestion that it reopen consultation on the adopted plan, but the plan itself leaves open the prospect of a review of dogs on beach rules as part of a stated, year 1 action of the DAMP, to develop a Dogs in Public Places Guidelines document.

“The guidelines will address existing restrictions, such as those related to playgrounds and beaches.”

The new guidelines are likely to be further informed by the development of inland off-leash exercise areas, including one soon to be constructed on the western side of Inverloch, in a park bounded by Queenscliff Drive and Headland Way, and another at Phillip Island.

President of the powerful Phillip Island Bass Coast Dog Owners Association, Cheryl Owens says there is no “dire situation” with the wombats around the Back Beach Road beach and dismisses the idea the council has a mandate stop the practice of people exercising their dogs off-leash on the San Remo beach.

“There have been no dog attacks on wombats. There have been reports of 7 or 8 interactions between dogs and wombats in the area during January, but it’s a busy time of the year.

“But there are plenty of harmless interactions with dogs and wildlife.

“Everyone agrees that it’s hard to manage the impact of visitors with dogs, especially over the summer, but most of the year, it’s very quiet,” she said.

Ms Owens used a social media post to keep the group’s membership aware of the Phillip Island Conservation Society’s attempted intervention urging a continued commitment to due process by the council.

“The leader of this animal ‘group’ has teamed up with a local conservation group to send this letter and make this demand. In turn, we have to act and remind council we expect things to run by the book, which is to listen to all sides and consult with you the ratepayer and make decisions based on numbers and best practice.”

The Sentinel-Times asked Cr Mat Morgan, a candidate for the Greens in the upcoming state election to make comment but he simply referred us to remarks he made when the plan was adopted last October. Presumably he stands by the remarks he made back then.

“I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to engage with the plan, but want to give special thanks to those who advocate for the animals that they don't own, for the wombats, the hooded plovers, all of the flora and fauna. We need domestic animals and their owners to take responsibility for the actions of their animals that we've brought into the natural environment of our native wildlife.

“I'm looking forward to seeing the inland off-leash areas being formalised with fencing in Inverloch. And like my colleagues, I'm glad to share that we're acquiring a couple of new compliance officers. Hopefully, this approach allows officers to educate those doing the wrong thing, and granted, it is the extreme minority, without ruining it for the responsible pet owners.

“That being said, I remain extremely concerned about the vulnerability of our native wildlife, especially on particular parts of our beautiful beaches. I've seen the photos and videos of the dogs chasing wildlife and digging in burrows. That must stop. I won't hesitate to bring an urgent motion into this chamber in future if I see that behaviour continuing post the adoption of this plan.”

It’s a thinly veiled threat to ban dogs from Bass Coast’s beaches that Cr Morgan appears happy to reinforce in light of the recent calls for action from Ms Kelly and the Phillip Island Conservation Society.