Wollongong City Council has proposed significantly reducing the off-leash dog area at McCauleys Beach, a popular spot between Thirroul and Bulli. The changes, part of a review of the Dogs on Beaches and Parks Policy, would shrink the off-leash zone to about one-fifth of its current length. The main stretch of the beach would become a 'public place' where dogs must be on a leash.
The council staff report does not provide a reason for the change, only describing the new area. The report will be voted on by councillors at Monday's meeting and, if approved, would be opened for public consultation. The Mercury asked the council for an explanation but was declined comment as the report is pending.
Local residents expressed concern. Bulli resident Andrew McIlwain, who walks his dog daily at McCauleys, said the beach is loved by the community and questioned the council's justification. Another dog owner, Lorraine, who declined to give her last name, said she could see no reason for the restriction and would be disappointed if it went ahead.
The report references the Sandon Point Aboriginal Place, declared in 2007. The proposed off-leash boundary aligns with the northern edge of the Aboriginal Place as mapped in the council's plan of management. However, the report does not clarify if this is the reason for the change, noting engagement with the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The review also recommends deleting a section of the policy that states Aboriginal elders were comfortable with off-leash areas and did not want dogs banned from culturally significant sites. The section notes that Aboriginal people and dogs have coexisted for generations. The council declined to comment on why this section would be removed.
The Sandon Point Aboriginal Place was declared for its significance as a gathering place. In 1998, a 6000-year-old skull was found in the dunes, identifying a man of high cultural status. The area was also the site of protests against a housing estate in the early 2000s.
