‘It’s not often you see a grown man cry’: Dogs and their owners fight to save beach access
- Replies 0
A heated standoff has erupted between pet owners and their local council over a proposed ban on off-leash dogs at a beloved beach.
What began as a standard proposal has now sparked an emotional uproar in the community, with some residents expressing deep distress over the potential changes.
As tensions rise, the fate of this popular beach hangs in the balance, leaving both dog owners and environmental advocates at odds.
A controversial proposal to ban off-leash dogs at a beloved beach has sparked a heated dispute between the Sunshine Coast council and pet owners.
The proposal, which affects a one-kilometre stretch of beach at Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach, has caused an emotional outcry among locals.
At one of the events organised by the Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee, committee co-founder Bree Logie witnessed a deeply emotional response.
‘At one of the events we hosted…two men and at least three women that day were in tears at the thought of changes being made to Stumers Creek off-leash beach,’ Ms Logie told NewsWire.
‘I have to tell you this broke my heart as it’s not often you see a grown man cry,’ she added.
The Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee was formed to fight the council’s proposed changes to the local beach, with Ms Logie co-founding the group due to her passion for the beach and her long-standing connection to the area.
‘Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach has been a popular off-leash dog beach for over thirty years,’ Ms Logie shared with NewsWire.
‘Most locals take great pride in having our dogs off leash, while respecting the environment, the turtles during breeding season and also each other,’ she continued.
Ms Logie, who has lived in Coolum Beach for more than 20 years, bought her home specifically to enjoy the off-leash beach with her rescue dogs.
Coolum Beach has many visitors who don’t own dogs, but still enjoy interacting with the dogs that frequent the beach, Ms Logie explained.
‘Coolum Beach is unique in that Stumers Creek has many people who frequent the beach who do not own dogs, however they enjoy the interaction with the off-leash dogs that visit the beach daily,’ she said.
Among those who regularly visit is Rob Debnam, a local man who visits the beach daily after the death of his beloved dog, Socks.
‘We have one gentleman who travels 40 minutes per day for his mental health,’ Ms Logie said.
‘His dog died two years ago and he religiously returns to the beach several times a week to sit and chat to the locals and interact with the dogs,’ she added.
The committee argues that dogs are not causing significant damage to the environment, but the Sunshine Coast council has a different perspective.
A spokesperson for the council told Yahoo News Australia that feedback from the community was still being reviewed as part of the proposed changes.
‘This plan is about shaping a future network of dog exercise areas across the entire Sunshine Coast—whether that’s parks, beaches or recreation reserves—that meet the needs of dog owners while respecting our region’s environmental and community values,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The community feedback will help ensure we strike the right balance between creating safe recreational spaces for dog owners and non-dog owners alike, while maintaining the natural beauty of our region,’ the spokesperson continued.
The council’s proposed changes would turn the one-kilometre stretch of beach at Stumers Creek into a leashed area, aiming to protect the local environment.
This proposal is part of a broader policy plan that would create more dog parks but reduce the number of off-leash beaches.
The move has outraged locals, many of whom have voiced their frustrations on social media, claiming that their dogs are well-behaved and cause minimal environmental disturbance.
‘The proposal has led to outrage among the community, as locals demand that their furry counterparts should be able to relax freely along the coastline,’ one resident wrote.
The Sunshine Coast’s decision to limit off-leash dog areas is part of a larger trend seen across Australia, where councils are restricting access to off-leash beaches due to concerns about wildlife protection, erosion, and the comfort of non-dog beachgoers.
Other councils, such as Shoalhaven City Council and the City of Greater Geelong, have also implemented similar measures in recent years.
A petition opposing the proposed changes has already gathered more than 6000 signatures, with the committee continuing to rally support.
The final decision on the proposal is expected within the next few months, with the community eagerly awaiting the council’s next steps.
Sunshine Coast Council has been contacted for comments.
In a previous story, we covered a troubling incident involving a content creator and her pets.
The situation raised serious concerns about animal welfare.
To read more about the arrest and the details surrounding the case, click here.
With so many passionate voices in the community, how do you feel about the proposal to ban off-leash dogs at Stumers Creek Beach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What began as a standard proposal has now sparked an emotional uproar in the community, with some residents expressing deep distress over the potential changes.
As tensions rise, the fate of this popular beach hangs in the balance, leaving both dog owners and environmental advocates at odds.
A controversial proposal to ban off-leash dogs at a beloved beach has sparked a heated dispute between the Sunshine Coast council and pet owners.
The proposal, which affects a one-kilometre stretch of beach at Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach, has caused an emotional outcry among locals.
At one of the events organised by the Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee, committee co-founder Bree Logie witnessed a deeply emotional response.
Locals express outrage over proposed dog beach ban. Image source: Bree Logie/Lachie Millard
‘At one of the events we hosted…two men and at least three women that day were in tears at the thought of changes being made to Stumers Creek off-leash beach,’ Ms Logie told NewsWire.
‘I have to tell you this broke my heart as it’s not often you see a grown man cry,’ she added.
The Save Stumers Creek Off Leash Dog Beach Committee was formed to fight the council’s proposed changes to the local beach, with Ms Logie co-founding the group due to her passion for the beach and her long-standing connection to the area.
‘Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach has been a popular off-leash dog beach for over thirty years,’ Ms Logie shared with NewsWire.
‘Most locals take great pride in having our dogs off leash, while respecting the environment, the turtles during breeding season and also each other,’ she continued.
Ms Logie, who has lived in Coolum Beach for more than 20 years, bought her home specifically to enjoy the off-leash beach with her rescue dogs.
Coolum Beach has many visitors who don’t own dogs, but still enjoy interacting with the dogs that frequent the beach, Ms Logie explained.
‘Coolum Beach is unique in that Stumers Creek has many people who frequent the beach who do not own dogs, however they enjoy the interaction with the off-leash dogs that visit the beach daily,’ she said.
Among those who regularly visit is Rob Debnam, a local man who visits the beach daily after the death of his beloved dog, Socks.
‘We have one gentleman who travels 40 minutes per day for his mental health,’ Ms Logie said.
‘His dog died two years ago and he religiously returns to the beach several times a week to sit and chat to the locals and interact with the dogs,’ she added.
The committee argues that dogs are not causing significant damage to the environment, but the Sunshine Coast council has a different perspective.
A spokesperson for the council told Yahoo News Australia that feedback from the community was still being reviewed as part of the proposed changes.
‘This plan is about shaping a future network of dog exercise areas across the entire Sunshine Coast—whether that’s parks, beaches or recreation reserves—that meet the needs of dog owners while respecting our region’s environmental and community values,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The community feedback will help ensure we strike the right balance between creating safe recreational spaces for dog owners and non-dog owners alike, while maintaining the natural beauty of our region,’ the spokesperson continued.
The council’s proposed changes would turn the one-kilometre stretch of beach at Stumers Creek into a leashed area, aiming to protect the local environment.
This proposal is part of a broader policy plan that would create more dog parks but reduce the number of off-leash beaches.
The move has outraged locals, many of whom have voiced their frustrations on social media, claiming that their dogs are well-behaved and cause minimal environmental disturbance.
‘The proposal has led to outrage among the community, as locals demand that their furry counterparts should be able to relax freely along the coastline,’ one resident wrote.
The Sunshine Coast’s decision to limit off-leash dog areas is part of a larger trend seen across Australia, where councils are restricting access to off-leash beaches due to concerns about wildlife protection, erosion, and the comfort of non-dog beachgoers.
Other councils, such as Shoalhaven City Council and the City of Greater Geelong, have also implemented similar measures in recent years.
A petition opposing the proposed changes has already gathered more than 6000 signatures, with the committee continuing to rally support.
The final decision on the proposal is expected within the next few months, with the community eagerly awaiting the council’s next steps.
Sunshine Coast Council has been contacted for comments.
In a previous story, we covered a troubling incident involving a content creator and her pets.
The situation raised serious concerns about animal welfare.
To read more about the arrest and the details surrounding the case, click here.
With so many passionate voices in the community, how do you feel about the proposal to ban off-leash dogs at Stumers Creek Beach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
