Dog attacking formerly resting seal at Long Reef Aquatic Reserve in November 2020 - a No Dogs area. Photos supplied
In the agenda for the meeting of Northern Beaches Council next Tuesday August 19, the council have recommended that a 12-month trial allowing offleash dogs on Mona Vale beach should go ahead, starting in mid-October. Councillors will vote on whether to proceed this trial.
Notification of this came via a council email addressed to our dog, Matilda, and was done this way to test out a complaint from residents that the ‘feedback during consultation’ had been turned into a rigged voting system whereby people who don’t live in the area, state or even Australia itself were supporting a push by a dog lobby group to resume a public beach unto themselves.
‘’While everyone’s entitled to an opinion, it’s important to question how much weight should be given to online feedback that doesn't come from those who actually live, work, raise families, or spend time here. Local decisions – especially those impacting our beaches, public spaces, and environment – should reflect the views of our local community, not be shaped by outside voices driving campaigns from afar.’’ one resident stated to the news service
Our DOG ‘voted’ against being mauled by dogs whose owners are too busy gazing into their phones to hold a leash attached to their pet, and because we all KNOW what happens when dogs are allowed offleash among young children and wildlife.
The council commissioned REF proclaimed there were no wildlife species to take into consideration because on the 2 days the area was monitored dogs were all over the beach chasing off anything that may have been around anyway.
However, those who have monitored the area over several years, and decades, have registered those sightings on respected platforms such as iNaturalist, e-bird, and the state government’s own systems for recording what species is where.
Both e-bird and iNaturalist record wildlife species in this vicinity, including the listed in NSW as vulnerable to extinction Australian Osprey, among the 85 species of birds that live here year-round or visit annually, while the 166 observed species of reptiles, mammals, and insects that make ecosystems thrive have not appeared in the lists of the REF.
The blue tongue lizard observed on June 21 2025 living the dunes on Mona Vale beach off Golf Avenue is just one local missed in the REF being referred to to progress this trial. It would certainly not survive being bitten and shaken by an offleash dog being allowed in its home.
Birds have been observed fishing off this part of the beach for as long as birds have gone fishing. With the times dogs will be allowed to chase them off the beach overlapping when birds wake and feed their young, how the impact on the species known to live here will be measured is not clear either.
Residents have stated there will be wildlife disturbance and the risks to nesting birds and fauna is not quantified or mitigated.
Mona Vale’s e-bird lists, including those recorded this month, is available at: ebird.org/hotspot/L2558098/bird-list
The 4 pages of Mona Vale iNaturalist records are available at: inaturalist./check_lists/4490425-Mona-Vale--NSW
Records of seals at Mona Vale are available in the NSW Government Dept. of Environment's Haul-out, Call-Out seal survey
Residents have stated the dog waste management for the trial is unclear and that the stated reliance on signage and bins lacks robust enforcement. Visitors to the beach may find they are lying in dog urine and dog faeces – the stink from the adjacent Robert Dunn Reserve, an offleash dog area, has become renowned.
Residents have also objected to the lack of equity of beach use stating non-dog users’ safety and peaceful access has been insufficiently addressed, and as has already occurred, one mum whose toddler was run over by a large dog on this beach that then urinated on their towel, was told to 'get off the beach' as ‘it is a dog beach now’.
Residents who have already encountered dogs on this beach, including the parents of another child who was attacked on this beach by a dog, suffering wounds and a lifelong fear of dogs, question the ability of the council to enforce compliance and responsible dog ownership.
The documents presented for the council meeting state; ‘’there will be regular patrols and monitoring of the off-leash area by Council’s Rangers (as resources allow)’’. The ‘as resources allow’ has seen dogs offleash in all public spaces, unchecked and unchallenged, in growing numbers, chasing off or killing wildlife, running over children and at other adults, for some time now.
Added to this is the Northern Beaches local government area is one of the top LGAs in NSW for reported dog attacks, with 126 incidents in just the first half of 2024/2025 OLG records, even clocking up more than the Central Coast in the December 2024 Qtr. when that LGA has a big influx of visitors and has, permanently, over twice as many registered dogs. Of these 126 NBC LGA attacks 18 were ‘serious’, meaning they required hospitalisation and medical treatment.
Although residents find themselves targeted in speaking out, in an attempt to silence all opposition through threats and stalking, they maintain ‘’these incidents are ‘not trivial’ and caused a great deal of emotional and, in some instances, physical stress to those involved.’’
''Even well-trained dogs can become unpredictable in open public settings. Beaches are particularly difficult to manage, as they have no physical barriers and attract a high number of children, joggers, and wildlife.'' a resident stated
Similarly, a ripping out of all and everything deeply rooted in the soil itself hasn’t occurred in time for what is unique about this spot to not get registered, officially.
Page 20 of the Draft POM records;
The NSW Biodiversity Values (BV) Map is facilitated by the NSW State Government and identifies land with high biodiversity value, particularly sensitive to impacts from development and clearing. On the 27 October 2023, the BV Map was updated to include the addition of revised habitat mapping for a number of threatened species. As a result, a portion of vegetation within the PoM is now identified on the BV Map (see Figure below).
Others have pointed out Mona Vale is rapidly transforming into a vibrant town centre, with a growing population and increased year-round beach use.
‘’For the very same reasons dogs aren’t allowed on Manly and Dee Why’s main beaches—proximity to town centres and the need to protect family-friendly spaces—off-leash access should not be introduced at Mona Vale Beach. It simply doesn't make sense to introduce off-leash dogs into an area that will see massive expansion.’’
‘’When the original off-leash trial locations were assessed, Mona Vale was not a designated town centre. That’s changed. Council staff estimate about 5,000 more residents but a former state planner living in Mona Vale has told me it could be as high as 8,000.
To protect the safety and enjoyment of beachgoers, especially children and older people, the same standards must now apply.’’ another resident stated
However, the obverse of that is those thousands may wish to take their dogs offleash on Mona Vale Beach too, along with the many out-of-area visitors who will also be able to bring their dogs onto this beach.
Ultimately, many in the community are deeply concerned about the proposed off-leash dog trials at Mona Vale Beach (South) and Palm Beach (North). They state these beaches are valued not just for their natural beauty, but for being safe, inclusive, and environmentally significant spaces used by families, swimmers, walkers, and visitors year-round.
They state these beaches should remain safe, accessible, and environmentally protected for everyone.
‘’This isn’t about being “anti-dog.” It’s about making balanced, evidence-informed decisions that respect the shared nature of our public spaces.
Many in the community - including dog lovers – have been asking the council to rethink this approach.’’ yet another has told the news service.
Matilda-Mae voted 'NO' - because even dogs KNOW what they are going to do when allowed offleash among children and wildlife.