My wife and I walk our dog on Nobbies Beach twice a day, at dawn and dusk most days. Until last Christmas, we had another wonderful canine as well, both dogs would respond most joyfully to the word 'beach' - they love the place and relish the time that they share unleashed with their doggy mates.

Providing that the dog and its owner are not vicious, or uncontrollable, and the dog's poop is picked up by the dog's owner/walker; there is little to recommend the theft of another personal freedom.

We want more leash free zones, not less.

How about a positive approach, rather than the usual implicitly negative and fascist habit for which local government is infamous.

Let us see the council seriously seek to control the bottle smashing louts, careless litterers and vandals who wreck our wonderful amenities by the sea; before it bothers upsetting man's best friend, and 1000s of dog loving Port Macquarie Hastings ratepayers.

I earnestly suggest that if anything needs to be done about controlling our pets, it is the cat problem that needs fixing. They ought to be registered, controlled within the owners premises, all sterilised at birth, and owners fined for any fauna the cat kills. Equity please.

Thanks for the opportunity to voice our opinion.

Dogs provide a variety of benefits to their owners (and therefore society)and their families including proven health benefits, companionship, security, exercise and teaching children responsibilities for others.

In return they need food, water, vet care, security, shelter, companionship, exercise and some freedom to explore and socialise.

I take our 2 dogs(down from 3 recently) to Lighthouse beach nearly every morning. Most beach users enjoy their time perfectly happily without any conflict with our and other's dogs. These include swimmers, sunbathers, walkers, joggers, courting couples, fishermen and the camels. Any small problems that do arise are almost always with other dogs given that it is the nature of dogs to establish a 'pecking order' but I have never seen an incident that caused any harm to dog or owner. It must always be the case that dogs off leash must be under control and not significantly aggressive.

Most of the time Lighthouse provides an excellent venue where dogs (and their owners) can exercise and investigate. I would be horrified if anything was done to reduce access or inhibit activity.

Conflict does arise with horses (race and recreational) who occasionally use the beach. It's inevitable that dogs will react to large animals moving fast by barking and chasing with obvious danger to dog, horse, rider, dog owner and bystanders. I wonder if the horse owners can in fact get insurance for this activity in these litiginous days. I deal with this by putting the dogs on leads, I hope I always see the horses coming! It is so unfair that horses can do whatever they want but dogs (and their owners, I mostly jog)have their activities curtailed. Surely council could open a track from the road some kilometers towards Lake Cathie for horses and not allow them to interfere with dog walking which is almost always limited to 2 or 3 kms south from the 4wd track.

I acknowledge that not every dog walker does the right thing in terms of waste, I have heard that Lighthouse is much better than Nobbys in this regard. The council could alleviate this problem by i)a consistent supply of waste bags rather than the current occasional supply that runs out in 2 or 3 days even though their sign says "please use the bags supplied" and ii) with some sort of minimal enforcement of the regulations.

While Lighthouse is generally a terrific place for dog walking it can be problematical at high tide in heavy weather when waves border on dangerous, it is possible to walk along the dunes but very unpleasant because your feet get caught up in grass runners. So there is a need for an all weather/all tide facility somewhere on the south side of PM.

Please keep current access arrangements at Lighthouse beach and please dog walkers do the right thing and clean up after your dog!!!

It is really sad what has happened at Bonny Hills. Once dogs & their owners, (often elderly) could be seen on Bartletts & Spooneys, but now because of a few troublemakers, no one ventures there. Contrary to what was said in a recent newspaper article, that 'no owner ever picked up after their dog', I can say that I have never seen one of our regular dog walkers NOT pick up after their dog. Indeed, we are outraged when we find dog faeces as it is so unusual& unacceptable.

Many dog owners are now intimidated by the unpleasantness here at Bonny hills & one owner is distressed because having his dog socialise on the parkland above the beaches is now denied him.

Spooneys Bay should revert to a 'dogs on leashes' beach & I endorse the move to have all beaches 'leash free' before say 8am & after 4pm.

Absolutely. I have one very old dog (recently lost the other) and two young pups, 16 months and 10 weeks. Although they all get walked on a leash daily, the interaction between them and other dogs (and other people)is totally different in an off-leash situation. My two youngest are mini-foxies and they need to be socialised at this early age with dogs of all shapes and sizes and temperaments - to learn their doggy etiquette for their own safety as much as for manners. They need to learn how to behave around other dogs and people in a variety of situations and off-leash areas used by sensible owners with other well socialised dogs is a great training ground for them. Well behaved, well socialised dogs cause less problems in general - less aggression, less barking, less snapping. Everyone benefits in the long run.

I have a working dog who needs a lot of exercise just like her ageing owner.I have never witnessed a problem at Lighthouse Beach in the seven years I've been here and can't see what all the fuss over this issue.

There is a band of dog haters who think they are the vocal majority,they have that wrong and never under estimate Dog lovers and how they will stand up for thier pets.

There are areas where dogs should be on leads and areas where they should not be taken eg patrolled beaches,schools etc. We are becoming over governed on a State and Local

basis and the fun police are making rules to cover the lowest common denominator eg the Dog owners who are not responsible.

Leave the beaches and parks as they are !!!!!

With respect to the responsible dog owners that keep their dogs on leashes and pick up after their dogs I applaud you for your diligence. I cannot however accept an increase in unleashed areas for dogs though as the majority od dog owners that I see blantantly disregard the current rules and unless someone brongs them into line why should we allow more open space to overrun by dogs. Being a regular walker along the coast walk having a dog beach at Nobby's in the middle of it is unappropriate. Having been attacked by a dog on this beach and then being told I should use another beach because this is a dog beach. The owner, obviously a redneck, does not understand taht even though your dog is in an unleashed area you must still be in control of the dog which he was not. Also the blantant disregard by having unleashed dogs on Kenny walk, Shelly Beach, Walking trails through to Miners beach, the park above Rocky Beach, the doctors walk, Westport Park and others to name but a few shows that council is not currently enforcing the dogs on leash policy anyway.

My policy would be to allow owners to walk dogs leash free south of Watonga Rocks only or on North Beach and leave the coast walk to walkers and responsible dog owners who use leashes. No dog free areas should ever be in areas frequented by families, children or the elderly. Having witnessed an attack at Lake Cathie in which the ranger was called to remove a dog only highlights the issues wioth dog owners who do not take responsibility for their dogs. As I said to those who are responsible I apologise as it is unfair to penalise you guys who do the right thing but unfortunately too many do teh wrong thing. Mabe dog owners could chastise other dog woners and pull tehm into line.

Another essential part of Councils responsibility in ensuring legal, safe and informed community access to leash free areas is correct signposting of these areas. One area of considerable concern is in the Lake Cathie area. At the top of the 4WD access track onto Middle Rock beach, the signage says "NO DOGS" yet the council website states that it is a leash free exercise area from the end of the 4WD track to Duchess Creek. Please also correct your website and indicate that Middle Rock is part of Lake Cathie and is Not Bonny Hills. It even shows it as such on the lands Department website where the plans for area 14 development is located.

Just get all the signage right so that tourists don't keep getting trapped by wrong signage and you end up with over crowding at the one or two correctly signposted dog beaches in the Hastings.

It is so important for a dog to have at least one large fenced leash free area, think of dogs who live in a small unit with just a little yard for exercise. Most dog owners are extremely responsible and take a dim view of anyone who doesnt 'tidy up' after their pet. Dogs learn socialisation and owners know when to keep their dog on a leash for protection of them and others. I'm a single older lady and I must admit its a wonderful place for people to socialise and make friends too !! When I lived in Darwin we had just one massive park with a lagoon. It was organised that half of this park be an off leash area. Everyone from interstate couldn't believe what a wonderful, massive, pet friendly area it was and I didnt believe no other town had one. We had a big lake to swim, exercise equipment for play and dog events, a small fenced area for private training , and a huge, huge park with trees and grass for exploring but most importantly all fenced. All dogs socialised as they played but not threatened as they could just wonder off safely. Some towns have small patches of grass with a fence barely bigger than a back garden which only serves to intimidate some dogs when put together and absolutely no place to explore. I hope you don't consider these adequate.I'm in Townsville currently and it breaks my heart there is no place to let them run apart from the one beach area. Dog beaches are just the best thing but I think wildlife should be protected as necessary. Perhaps wardens should be employed specifically to patrol these areas. (I would put my hand up for that job !!) I am moving to Port Mac in September and it just looks such a wonderful place to live but what spoils it slightly is the worry that there is no facilities for my two small maltese x's. I've been to towns which just put a big reserve aside for dogs off leash , which is wonderful but with no fences can be quite dangerous. I do hope you find a solution. I send my two dogs to doggie day care twice a week here, just to make up for not letting them off the leash, and it's expensive !! (but they're worth it !!)

I constantly run into people from the tourist/ Caravan park at Bonny Hills who are regular visistor to the region "Just for the Dog Friendly" locality of north of Duchess Creek and just can't believe how good we have it. I warn them of the hazzard of not putting their dogs on leash after walking round the Middle Rock platform towards the Lake entrance as it is not signposted at beach level.

I met One couple who were lucky enough to get a "Warning" from the ranger but have heard of others that have copped the full penalty.

The carpark needs a Knobbys supply of black disposal bags to keep people conscious of their responsibility. Perhaps the bags could be put at the base of the steps and also the 4WD track so they are accessable by those coming from the Bonnys end without having to go up to the car park?

Hastings Council is not a dog friendly area in which to live. We are constantly being restricted as to what and were we can go. My dogs are well behaved socialised and i will continue to allow them to run unrestrained when safe to do so because this council will never allow for such activity!I wont drive 10 kms just to let then run legally! Sorry!

Animals have been proven scientifcally to enhance older peoples lifestyle wellness and longivety.

We travel with our dogs exstensively and find that nearly 60% of Nomads have animals and they are increasing each day.I have witnessed two eopisode of bad behaviour and that was the owners insensitivty.

We need MORE dog bin recepticals especially along the water front in town, & i think that you will find people will pick up more readily.

Iam dissappointed there is no comments for dogs on leashes at the beach. My dog loves the beach also and Council Board clearly says dogs on the beach North of this point at Lighthouse where the camels park have to be leashed. My dog is unsocial and is an agressive breed. I try to walk her here and do my best to stay away from other dogs, except stupid people and it has always been males refuse to leash their dog. The idiots seem to think Iam worried about my dog. I have better things to do than get in the middle of a dog fight which mine will win and my dog should be able to walk the beach also . She would love to run free but out of respect for others I keep her leashed so everyone can enjoy the beach . Is it too hard to consider others? I obey the rules and am frustrated when other s choose to do whatever they like.

Without a doubt, the most important thing for myself and my dog is to let him run free without his leash!! Being the owner of a "much larger than average" canine requires plenty of exercise just to keep him less lively when at home! Our daily walks at Nobby's keep us both socialised and regularly exercised. Due to my dog's large size and personality, I appreciate that he can come across as an intimidating creature, but most who know him, know that he is just a large sook at heart, who just loves to play and run and swim with all his doggy mates at the beach. This is the one time of day when he can really let loose and have a good time. We are lucky to live close enough to get to the beach most days, although, an alternative leash free area for our winter outings would be most welcomed - he doesn't mind the cold and dark as much as me, but I cannot be neglectful of his daily exercise! (and, like many others, we always clean up after ourselves and have spare bags for those that "forget"). Please keep our leash free areas and more would be much appreciated!