First Nations leader loses battle to protect beachside burial site
An elder has made an impassioned plea to Wollongong City Council during a debate over off-leash dog areas on beaches and parks
“Don’t let dogs roam on a burial site.”
A First Nations elder has made an impassioned plea to Wollongong City Council during a debate over off-leash dog areas on beaches and parks.
Addressing councillors during the public access forum, Aunty Shas Robinson asked on Monday night that McCauley's Beach near Sandon Point be included on a “red zone” list of beaches where dogs are banned.
“Why is it that we think it’s OK to have dogs off leashes on a burial site,” Aunty Shas, a Kamilaroi-Yuin woman, said.
“It is a declared Aboriginal place… why do they think it’s OK to have dogs near burial grounds? Would we allow dogs to roam free in Wollongong cemetery? No, we would not.”
Aunty Shas said Wollongong Council had a reconciliation policy “yet doesn’t want to respect our ancestors and our burial places.”
“I have read the dog leash policy and not once does it talk about dogs urinating on beaches where children play and adults lay.
“There’s enough dog off-leash beaches without adding McCauley’s Beach.”
Aunty Shas said council wouldn’t allow humans to urinate on beaches, yet it was OK for dogs.
Fisherman's Beach concerns
Also speaking during the public access forum, Mark Peterlin said he was representing Port Kembla residents who “believe the suburb already has enough dog beaches and want at least one permanently dog-free beach for families”.
“When the Dogs on Beaches policy was first implemented, someone on council thought it was OK to have all the beaches in Port Kembla declared dog off-leash beaches, thinking that to declare it an Orange Zone would make it acceptable to residents,” Mark said.
(Orange Zone beaches allow dogs on leashes before 9am and after 5pm.)
“Port Kembla is unique in that it has three beaches, all of which are dog beaches. The Orange Zone is blatantly ignored and enforcement is ineffective.
“Fisherman’s Beach is probably the safest beach in Illawarra, with predominantly small waves and no rips. It is essentially a protected cove. It is a fantastic, family-friendly, child-safe, beautiful beach. However, parents can’t relax if dogs are roaming around uncontrolled.”
'Listen to the silent majority'
While councillors said they respected the views of Aunty Shas, most voted to retain McCauley’s Beach as an off-leash dog zone.
“I do respect her opinion,” Cr Richard Martin said but other First Nations people “are quite comfortable having dogs walk on that beach.”
Cr Martin said of 291 submissions received about the council policy, only 14 wanted to change McCauley's Beach to dog free. “We need to listen to the silent majority,” he said.
“One of the reasons why I moved to Wollongong in 2011 is that it’s a dog-friendly city. We need to listen to our community, and as a dog lover and dog owner, I think this city does a great job.”
'A loud minority'
Cr Thomas Quinn agreed. “We can’t let ourselves be controlled in this chamber by a loud minority.
Cr Linda Campbell said she felt it was important for council to “back the position of what the bulk of the community told us during consultation”.
Greens Cr Jess Whittaker said she believed ”an organised campaign” by dog lovers had skewed the response to council’s consultation process.
“If there was ever a beach that needs to be wound back, it’s McCauley’s Beach.”
Cr Whittaker read out sections of Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan which spoke of listening to the concerns of First Nations voices.
“I can’t support the policy given there are Aboriginal leaders in the community asking us for our support.”
Following the debate, council voted overwhelmingly to support the Dog on Beaches and Parks Policy without changes. Only Greens councillors Jess Whittaker and Deidre Stuart and independent Andrew Anthony voted for amendments to ban dogs from McCauley’s Beach and Fisherman’s Beach.
