DOG owners are being asked to “tighten the leash” at nine Mornington Peninsula beaches.
In a bid to “encourage residents to better manage dog behaviour and improve dog obedience”, Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and management committees have “developed a comprehensive compliance program to regulate the behaviour of dogs on beaches to improve the amenity of our beaches”, according to the mayor, Cr David Gill.
“This partnership allows us to apply all the existing rules and regulations across our beaches in a consistent manner which is a positive outcome for our community.”
The compliance program is especially aimed at Balnarring Beach, Capel Sound, Dromana, Merricks Beach, Point King, Point Leo, Shoreham, Somers, and Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight.
“We recognise both the benefits of unleashed dog exercise areas for community wellbeing and the importance of managing impacts on the amenity of nearby residents and other beach users,” Cr Gill said.
Dog walkers at the nine beaches can expect “awareness and compliance action” from shire rangers; year-round patrols “by skilled and experienced community safety officers” to ensure dogs are “on-lead and under control” and registered.
While also “acknowledging good behaviour” they will also be checking that dog owners clean up after their dogs and check on the need to review and improve signs.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 9 April 2019
