The recent decision by the (Gympie Regional Council) to choose a site that was not the most preferred as voted by ratepayers in the poll conducted by the council is contentious.
It would be interesting to know on what basis were the four sites, offered in the poll, selected?
The exclusion of one of the sites due to a secret commercial proposition (as advised by the council) should be investigated.
The chosen site is difficult to justify in that (apart from being substantially smaller than recommended by the guidelines), it has a number of issues.
Firstly, it drains to a culvert located toward its eastern end that is impacted directly by high tides.
The nutrient fertilization by dogs is well documented … and the negative impact upon the Ramsar Convention listed Sandy Strait and its shorebird breeding habitat and the fish stocks requires consultation with the (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) and the Queensland government.
(Has) this site been chosen prior to consultation (and approval) by the relevant authorities?
The impact on residents and ratepayers adjoining the site warrants consideration.
The guidelines for Local Government dog off-leash areas (DOLA) are very specific…
It should be noted that any proposed DOLA is subject to a 12-month trial period prior to a review as to suitability.
Peter Raynes
Tin Can Bay
[Abridged]
