Misrepresented wombat friends group, they say
I am writing to appeal to your editor to set the record straight about untruths that were published in your paper and online in May 2025 ‘They’ll tell you how to walk the dog’, author unknown. This article has only now come to my attention, as I wasn’t contacted for comment, even though it mentions our group in it.
In the article your paper misrepresented our group, Friends of San Remo Wombats. I’m a qualified professional writer myself, therefore I’m aware of the importance of balanced and accurate journalism, especially when writing about issues that have the potential to negatively impact the health and wellbeing of dogs, wildlife and the environment.
Firstly, the article starts with, “...it might come as a complete surprise to many to learn that between December 1 and April 30 each year, you can’t go for a stroll along ‘Lovers Walk’ in Cowes with your dog, on the shared pathway connecting The Esplanade to Stradbroke Avenue.
“Between the hours of 10am and 5pm, and also between 8pm and 7am, dogs are completely prohibited in this area, on leash or not. But regardless of the rules, posted at both ends of the walking path, it remains one of the most popular locations for local residents and visitors to go for a walk with their dogs at all times of the year.”
The Sentinel author writes, “It’s not civil disobedience, it’s simply how it is… people using the pathway to walk up to the Cowes’ shops from their homes, holiday houses and other accommodation in the East Cowes area.”
They also call the rules for Lovers Walk an ‘anomaly’. Was this article submitted by the Phillip Island and Bass Coast Dog Owners Association for publication? It doesn’t have an author listed, but reads as an opinion piece rather than an article that was well-researched and true.
While I can’t speak for Lovers Walk, many in the community hope that the council has rules (by-laws) in place for good reason - we know they do for people running off-leash dogs on the San Remo back beach. The beach has just a few simple rules that most people follow so we can safely, and ethically, share the beach. But still far too many people break the rules, allowing their dogs in the dunes and vegetation, out of sight of their owners, not under voice control and around wildlife, and sometimes inside wombat burrows.
This activity is not only a breach of the local by-laws, but is a breach of the Wildlife Act 1975; legislation in place to protect native species. The behaviour of rulebreakers is impacting wombats, including their vulnerable joeys; wombats that are already under pressure dealing with habitat loss, roadkill and the scourge of mange.
I wish our group hadn’t (inadvertently) identified this problem with dog owners breaking this beach’s rules, but we did, and have been trying to help advocate for the wombats ever since.
The information in your article highlights that some dog walkers ignore local by-laws clearly marked on signage, and walk their dogs in areas that are restricted. In our group’s view this is because there is a ‘culture of non-compliance’ on the Bass Coast in terms of dog walkers not following the few rules that are in place for beaches and other residential areas.
Your article claims the rules in place for Lovers Walk are an ‘anomaly’, and thus appears to defend people doing the wrong thing, which, in our view, is irresponsible and unhelpful. What other council by-laws are acceptable for some individuals in the community to breach, without penalty, when they don’t agree with them?
Nonetheless, your article also misrepresented a few other facts, which is disappointing for a professional and well-respected publication. If you had contacted our group, we would have presented our side and the facts.
Eve Kelly, Friends of San Remo Wombats.
