Agenda of Ordinary Meeting - Thursday, 11 December 2025

Ordinary Meeting Agenda 11 December 2025

8 Reports Direct to Council

8.1 Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint

File No: Council Meetings

Author: Manager Parks and Gardens

Infrastructure and Natural Assets

Appendices: App a - Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan & Network Blueprint 2025-45 23 ⇩

Attachments: Att 1 - Community Consultation Summary Report............ 5/166

Att 2 - Multi-Criteria Risk Assessments............................. 91/166

Att 3 - Maps of Beaches and Foreshore Changes........... 111/166

Att 4 - Human Rights Assessment.................................... 125/166

purpose

This report presents the Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025-45 (Appendix A - Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan & Network Blueprint 2025-45) (the Plan) for Council consideration and endorsement.

The Plan outlines a long-term strategic framework to guide the planning, distribution, and management of dog exercise areas across the Sunshine Coast over the next 20 years. It focuses on provision across Council-owned or controlled land, including recreation parks, beaches and foreshores, environment reserves, and sports fields.

Informed through extensive community consultation, the Plan reflects Council’s commitment to providing safe, accessible, and well-managed dog exercise opportunities that respond to the needs of the community, while protecting the region’s environmental and cultural values.

Council has listened to the community and stakeholder feedback and made several key amendments to the draft Plan. This report shares key findings from the community engagement process delivering transparency and informed discussion, helping to shape a final Plan that aligns with Council’s broader strategic goals and lasting outcomes for future generations.

Executive Summary

The Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025–45 presents a comprehensive strategy for the next two decades, guiding how dog exercise areas are planned, located, and managed across the Sunshine Coast. It was developed as a key initiative under the refreshed Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017–2041 and aligns with Council’s December 2023 resolution, OM23/145, to adopt a region-wide approach. The Blueprint reinforces Council’s dedication to creating safe, inclusive, and well-maintained public spaces for the community.

Extensive engagement with the community, Councillors, internal departments, and external stakeholders have informed the Plan. It incorporates contemporary research, policy alignment, community values and ensures the network meets current and future population growth trends of our community and dogs.

Following extensive community feedback and environmental assessments, several adjustments will be implemented across popular beach and reserve areas to enhance safety, protect sensitive habitats, and improve user experience.

Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach

Community input highlighted the importance of maintaining the site’s character, so only minor changes will occur. Visitors arriving by car or walking their pets past the carpark must keep dogs on-leash until they are at least 10 metres beachside of the carpark. This measure improves safety for pedestrians and vehicles. The existing off-leash zone, which extends approximately three kilometres north and south of the creek, will remain unchanged.

Currimundi Beach

To reduce conflicts and improve safety near the busy carpark, shops, picnic areas, and swimming zone, dogs will no longer be permitted to cross the mouth of Currimundi Lake between Beach Access 253 and 254. South of the lake, the current 1.25 kilometre off-leash area will continue, stretching to just north of Ann Street (approximately 50 metres north of Beach Access 262). A slight adjustment introduces an additional 50 metre buffer adjoining the Dicky Beach Bathing Reserve to protect the patrolled swimming area. There is no change to the existing off-leash area north of the lake (beach access 253).

The Plan will guide future investment, and operational decision-making, supporting a balanced and sustainable network of dog exercise areas that reflects the values and priorities of the Sunshine Coast community.

Officer Recommendation

That Council:

(a) receive and note the report titled “Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint”

(b) endorse the Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025-45 (Appendix A)

(c) progress to a Local Law Amendment Process where detailed dog access provision changes are recommended in the Plan and

(d) note the Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025-45 will inform priorities for consideration in relevant future budgets.

Finance and Resourcing

Implementation of the Plan’s future capital investment will be considered through Council’s annual budget process and long-term capital works planning cycles.

The Plan outlines infrastructure priorities to support the delivery of safe, accessible, and well-managed dog exercise areas across the region. These priorities include the construction of new facilities, upgrades to existing sites, installation of beach wash-down showers, and improvements to signage across a variety of open space settings. They have been staged across short, medium, and long-term timeframes, based on land currently owned or managed by Council, as well as future developer-delivered infrastructure.

· Capital funding proposals aligned with the Plan’s staged implementation and available funding.

· Prioritise projects based on demand, strategic value and risk mitigation.

· Identify opportunities to leverage external funding sources such as grants and developer contributions.

· Ensure operational budgets accommodate ongoing maintenance, compliance, and community engagement activities.

Corporate Plan

Corporate Plan Goal: Environment and liveability

Strategic Pathway: We serve our community by providing this great service

Operational Activity: S12 - Recreational Parks, Open Space and Vegetation Management - Designing, planning and maintaining Council’s public open spaces for active and passive recreation.

Consultation

The development of the Plan has been guided by a robust governance framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. The governance structure includes:

· Council as the final decision-maker, supported by the Executive Leadership Team for strategic direction and advice.

· A dedicated Project Lead Team responsible for project management, governance and working with consultants and key stakeholders.

· A Principal Stakeholder Project Working Group providing technical and operational input.

· A Risk Assessment Panel comprising internal technical experts to evaluate outcomes with consideration of risks of dog access provision on community values and human rights impacts.

· Engagement through community Focus Groups, including First Nations representatives, and professional consultants, to ensure broad and inclusive input.

Councillor Consultation

The Mayor and all Councillors were actively engaged throughout the development of the Plan. Regular consultation sessions were held with portfolio Councillors and individual Councillors. Feedback received during this process was carefully considered and has informed revisions incorporated into the final version of the Plan.

Internal Consultation

Internal consultation was completed through a Principal Stakeholder Working Group which met regularly during the development of the Plan. In addition, several Executive Leadership Team workshops were held.

Branches included in the internal consultation included:

· Parks & Gardens

· Environment & Sustainability Policy

· Customer Response

· Environmental Operations

· Community Development

· Communication

· Design & Placemaking Services

· Sport & Community Venues

· Property Management

· Strategic Planning

· Governance Policy & Process.

External Consultation

The Plan has been shaped by insights from five targeted focus groups comprising of subject matter expertise participants in the natural environment, access and inclusion, community engagement, dog-related businesses, and First Nations perspectives. In addition to these focus groups, the Plan also draws on feedback from previous community consultations related to dog exercise area projects, thus ensuring continuity and responsiveness to community feedback.

Key themes that emerged from the focus group discussions include:

· Safety for people, dogs and wildlife

· Accessibility

· Signage

· Balanced provision

· Environmental and cultural preservation

· Community/social benefits

· Regulation, enforcement and education

· Data/evidence-based planning and decision making

· Response to future population growth

· Planning for more dogs

· Developer contributions required.

Community Engagement

The draft Plan was released for formal community engagement from 4 February to 7 March 2025. This consultation has provided valuable insights into community priorities and informed the identification of key opportunities to refine and strengthen the Plan. A Community Consultation Report (Attachment 1 - Community Consultation Summary Report) summarises the engagement outcomes.

Community interest in the Plan was strong, with a wide range of feedback and participation outcomes recorded. Highlights from the engagement activities include:

· Survey participation: 2,301 valid responses submitted via the Have Your Say platform.

· Social media outreach: 18 posts generated 50,372 impressions and 26,231 video views.

· Pop-up sessions: 18 in-person engagement events held across the region.

· Focus group sessions: Nine focus group sessions conducted with targeted stakeholders.

· Written submissions: Six formal submissions received.

· Petitions: Four petitions tabled at Council.

· Emails: 216 emails were submitted and formally responded to.

Of significant interest, the consultation process revealed a clear division in perspectives between dog owners and non-dog owners. This distinction underscores the need for a balanced approach that considers both recreational demand and broader community expectations, including environmental and cultural protection and equitable access to public spaces.

Overall, the demographic profile of respondents demonstrates a high level of local engagement, with majority being dog owners across various age groups, genders and community interests. This breadth of input provides a strong foundation for evidence-based planning that is inclusive, balanced, and responsive to the varied needs of the Sunshine Coast community.

During the engagement period, Council received four petitions, formally tabled at Ordinary Meetings. The lead project team and Divisional Councillors met with each of the petitioners

to better understand concerns, share insights into the Plan’s objectives, and clarify key elements.

Feedback received throughout the development of the Plan has played a vital role in shaping its direction. Community insights, shared through surveys, submissions, emails, petitions, and face-to-face engagement, have been carefully considered and directly informed updates to the Plan. These contributions reflect the community’s passion for public spaces and their commitment to ensuring dog exercise areas are safe, inclusive, and well-managed.

Consultation Emerging Themes

As a result of analysing survey responses and direct email feedback, the following themes were most evident:

· Social benefits for humans and dogs

· Beach and foreshore provision

· Environmental protection

· Cultural heritage protection

· Monitoring & funding

· Education

· Decision making

· Responsibility & governance

· Other exercise types

The community consultation provided valuable insights which include:

1. Enhance Beach and Foreshore Access Planning

· Reassess proposed restrictions in high-use coastal areas such as Stumers Creek and consider options available to better manage risks of dog access on environmental, social, cultural and management values, with the aim to minimise reductions to dog access.

· Consider seasonal or time-based access models to balance recreational use.

2. Expand and Diversify Off-Leash Areas

· Identify underutilised open spaces for potential conversion to off-leash zones.

· Prioritise areas with demonstrated community demand and accessibility.

· Recognise on-leash pathway network as existing exercise provision for dogs and consider education opportunities to highlight on-leash benefits.

· Consider private/public partnerships and promotion for dog exercise commercial opportunities outside of council managed land.

3. Communication and Transparency

· Publish Multi-Criteria Risk Assessment results.

· Clarification of decision-making frameworks, including Multi-Criteria Risk Assessment and Pairwise weighting systems.

· Develop interactive maps demonstrating current and proposed dog exercise area locations and attributes.

· Recognition of social benefits within proposed Objectives of the Plan.

4. Strengthen Education and Awareness Programs

· Partner with local trainers, vets, and community groups to promote responsible dog ownership.

· Continue campaigns on dog etiquette, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity.

5. Integrate Cultural Heritage Values

· Collaborate with Kabi Kabi and Jinibara First Nations Peoples to embed cultural knowledge and interpretation.

· Include cultural education elements in signage and community programs.

· Recognise and protect culturally significant sites within the network.

6. Funding and Governance

· Provide transparent information on funding sources, including Council, developer contributions, and use of dog registration fees.

· Explore community co-investment models for infrastructure upgrades.

· Consider opportunities to enhance ongoing management and enforcement.

7. Monitor and Evaluate Implementation

· Establish a framework for ongoing monitoring of dog exercise area usage, compliance, and environmental impacts.

· Use feedback loops with community and stakeholders to adapt and improve the network over time.

· Consider pilot programs (with community) to test shared-use arrangements regarding monitoring and assessment where feasible.

Proposal

At the Ordinary Meeting held in December 2023, Council resolved to adopt the proposed Amendment to Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2023, introducing several changes to dog off-leash areas in and around Point Cartwright and Buddina. As part of that resolution, Council noted that the Chief Executive Officer would undertake, complete, and report on a proposed region-wide Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint.

Developed as a key action under the Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017-2041 (2023 refresh) (Operational Activity 2.3.5), the Plan provides a long-term strategic framework with a focus on the provision of dog exercise areas on Council-owned or controlled land, including recreation parks, beaches and foreshores, environment reserves, and sports fields. This is also underpinned by delivering a network of safe and suitable dog exercise areas that meets the current and future needs of our growing Sunshine Coast communities, while protecting the natural environment and culturally sensitive landscapes.

The Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint 2025-45 considers the appropriateness of the existing dog exercise network and delivery of provision for a future network that services user needs and aligns with our region’s environmental and community values.

The Plan emphasises the importance of dog ownership, which provides a range of physical, mental, and social benefits that contribute positively to individual wellbeing and community health. Access to designated off-leash areas encourages active lifestyles, while the companionship of dogs supports mental health wellbeing.

Socially, dogs help foster community connections supporting casual interactions between residents, strengthening neighbourhood ties while offering affordable recreation opportunities for families and individuals, contributing to inclusive and active communities.

1. The Plan seeks to balance the needs of dogs and their owners with other community values, through the following five objectives: To provide sufficient access to dog exercise areas close to where dog owners live: provide dog owners with adequate access to the dog exercise area network within reasonable travel distance, supporting social and wellbeing benefits.

2. To promote fair access to recreation opportunities across the region: balance the needs of dog owners and non-do owners with growing community demand for other outdoor recreation and open space.

3. To protect environmental values: safeguard cultural values, landscapes, habitats, and wildlife in the region for current and future generations.

4. To maintain the safety and comfort of the community: ensure dog exercise areas are safe, inclusive, and provide dog-free areas for those who prefer not to encounter dogs. Support education of compliance and responsible dog ownership.

5. To enable appropriate budgeting and prioritisation: enable efficient and fair allocation of Council’s capital works and maintenance budget.

The Plan is structured around several key elements including:

· Strategic framework – aligning with Council’s broader strategic direction, including the Environment and Liveability Strategy 2017-2041 (2023 refresh), which guides sustainable growth while protecting natural assets; the Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019–2041, which promotes vibrant, inclusive communities connected to open spaces; and the Regional Economic Development Strategy 2013–2033, which supports tourism and recreational experiences as part of a resilient regional economy.

· Community profile, vision and objectives – detailing dog ownership trends and establishing long-term goals for the dog exercise area network.

· Community and stakeholder feedback – summarising engagement outcomes that have shaped the Plan’s direction.

· Standards and assessment criteria – defining desired service levels and tools for evaluating suitability of potential dog exercise area sites.

· Network blueprint and action plan – recommending future dog exercise area localities, upgrades, and implementation strategies to meet projected needs.

The Plan incorporates current data, industry research, and community values that determine the type of dog exercise areas to be provisioned, including the future desired standards of service and levels of embellishment for each facility type.

The Network Blueprint identifies the localities in need of additional dog exercise area provision and establishes prioritisation for delivery based on population projections. In addition, the Network Blueprint provides justification for future site-specific investigations, which utilises balanced criteria established in the Plan to guide assessment of new dog exercise areas, or changes to existing dog exercise areas in priority areas.

Community consultation survey results provided practical insights and valuable perspectives on the Plan, resulting in consideration of alternative approaches to manage or mitigate associated risks, particularly at key locations across the region. Many respondents offered detailed feedback on specific beach and foreshore areas, highlighting both opportunities and concerns related to access, environmental sensitivity, and user experience. These location specific insights have been assessed using the Multi-Criteria Risk Assessment (Attachment 2 – Multi-Criteria Risk Assessments) framework, which provides a consistent, values-based methodology for decision-making.

A range of refinement opportunities have been identified to enhance the Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan 2025–45 ahead of its finalisation. These opportunities are grouped into key

thematic areas of the Plan—Recreation Parks, Beaches and Foreshores, Environmental Reserves, and Sports Fields and directly respond to community feedback:

Sports Fields

· Prohibit dogs from all active playing surfaces however continue to allow on-leash in common areas.

· Continue to provide a permit process to support organised dog events on active playing surfaces.

Recreation Parks

· Include Eumundi for a future local dog exercise area.

· Include Coolum for a future local dog exercise area. Increase provision to improve access and reduce pressure on northern beaches.

Environment Reserves

· Prohibit dogs from a number of high conservation value environment reserves as detailed within the Plan.

· Increase regulation at Maleny Community Precinct to protect platypus populations.

Beaches and Foreshores

Stumers Beach

· Minor amendment to move off-leash boundary 10m east of the carpark entry to the creek, with clearly defined signage on each side of Stumers Creek to indicate the boundary between off-leash and on-leash access.