Dogs Off-leash Project
Protecting sensitive wildlife by better managing domestic dogs.
Reducing the disturbance that domestic dogs could bring to shorebirds and other native wildlife on the beaches of North Stradbroke Island.Dogs off-leash on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) Beaches Project aims to reduce the disturbance that domestic dogs could bring to shorebirds and other native wildlife on the beaches of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
The project is part of a wide set of projects along Moreton Bay Ramsar and it involves the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) in the implementation of new regulations to better manage domestic dogs on beaches.
QYAC will participate in the compliance and education program to carry out the change as well.
The project was focused on:
- QYAC is working to implement new regulations to better manage domestic dogs on beaches on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
- Compliance and education program run by QYAC in collaboration with other stakeholders to implement the change.
- Patrols along beaches to ensure compliance with the ‘dogs on leash’ rules.
- Compliance rate was found to be high (80%) with 70 dogs observed on-leash and 16 off-leash.
What we are doing
Patrols on the beaches to make sure the community is educated on the rules and regulations and compliant.
To achieve effective interventions, this project involves:
- Reducing the disturbance that domestic dogs could bring to shorebirds and other native wildlife on the beaches of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
- Implementing new regulations to better manage domestic dogs on beaches.
- Implementing a compliance and education program to carry out the change.
Measuring success
As a result of this project, the following has already been achieved:
- QYAC installed 30 informative/directional signs at beach access points, campsites, and toilet blocks along Flinders Beach, Main Beach, and Bradbury’s Beach.
- QYAC rangers undertook patrols along these beaches to ensure compliance with the ‘dogs on leash’ rules by educating people and issuing fines where necessary.
- The impact of these measures was monitored during the busy Easter period in 2022, particularly along Main Beach, Flinders Beach, and Bradbury’s Beach. Overall, the compliance rate was found to be high (80%) with 70 dogs observed on-leash and 16 off-leash.
- A substantial improvement has been recorded from the baseline data gathered in May 2021 which found only 5% compliance with only 1 out of 20 dogs on leashes.
The initiatives will be carried out to make sure that the disturbance to wildlife is under control.
Why this project is important
|
The beaches on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) as well as the entire island are home to some of our sensitive wildlife. Domestic dogs, especially when left off the leash, can disturb shorebirds and other native wildlife along those shores. It is important to preserve their habitat and make sure that they are not affected by our domestic friends. To reduce this threat, QYAC is working to implement new regulations to better manage domestic dogs on those beaches to protect sensitive wildlife. The change has been carried out through a compliance and education program run by QYAC in collaboration with other stakeholders. |
Project snapshot
| Project name: | Domestic Dog Control on Minjerribah Project |
| Project manager: | Chelsea Kluske, Healthy Land & Water |
| Catchment: | Moreton Bay |
| Timing: | 2018 – 2023 (Completed) |
| Budget: | $30,000 |
| Partnerships: |
This project is a collaboration between the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and Healthy Land & Water, with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. |
| Related Articles: |
Project collaborators
This project is a collaboration between the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and Healthy Land & Water, with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
