Latest news with #WaverleyCouncil
The Age
05-06-2025
- General
- The Age
Pet etiquette? How about fines for parents of badly behaved children?
So, I'm on an off-lead dog beach, a rare haven in Sydney, where man's best friend is allowed a modicum of freedom of movement and my Frenchie Roxy and I couldn't be happier. There are similarly excited pooches and their owners everywhere, running for balls, jumping in waves, just loving life sick. Then, amid the mutt mayhem, a family with kids arrives and sets up a picnic right smack bang in the middle of the action. Suddenly, an unsupervised toddler wanders off towards my Roxy, squeals loudly then proceeds to awkwardly cuddle, poke and test her unwavering patience. The parents see what's happening and call for the toddler to come back, but they are ignored because, well, it's a kid and that's what kids to. Next thing you know, they are in my face screaming at me to get my dog away from their child and threatening to report me for being unable to 'maintain effective control' of my animal. Yep, you heard it, report me for their child approaching my dog on an off-lead beach! Now, I don't think you have to be Nostradamus to predict my reaction. I was incensed. In fact, the only thing that stopped me going completely postal back at them was the sight of a large labrador attacking their picnic while they had a go at me. Loading I ended up leaving the beach that day because I know that as a dog owner, I have little to no rights. The parents who couldn't 'maintain effective control' of their child behaving like, well, a kid, will always win. And I am frankly tiring of it. Surely, we owners should get a break for the temerity of having a dog that acts as, well, a dog in a space allocated for just that. It appears that's not about to happen. In fact, things are likely to get worse with news that some NSW councils are pushing to increase fines and penalties on owners. This isn't trivial, considering the maximum fine an NSW council can issue is $330 for breaking off-leash walking rules, while not picking up after your dog is $275. Waverley Council is even going as far as advocating for dog owners to attend pet ownership training. I wonder how the public would react if the same penalties were placed on parents for unruly children? A misbehaving child in a restaurant, say $250? A child screaming on a plane, well, now that would be a revenue earner … The reality is these councils pushing for extra penalties should do some homework to get an accurate gauge on its constituents' wants, needs and lifestyles. Birth rates in this country are declining and the reality is that, like the UK, more and more Australians are actively making a lifestyle choice to 'parent' a dog rather than a biological child – and I am unashamedly one of them. My life, my choice. I have no complaints; regardless of what others may think. I don't disrespect those who choose to have children and, as such, wouldn't mind a bit of respect and grace coming back my way for my choices.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pet etiquette? How about fines for parents of badly behaved children?
So, I'm on an off-lead dog beach, a rare haven in Sydney, where man's best friend is allowed a modicum of freedom of movement and my Frenchie Roxy and I couldn't be happier. There are similarly excited pooches and their owners everywhere, running for balls, jumping in waves, just loving life sick. Then, amid the mutt mayhem, a family with kids arrives and sets up a picnic right smack bang in the middle of the action. Suddenly, an unsupervised toddler wanders off towards my Roxy, squeals loudly then proceeds to awkwardly cuddle, poke and test her unwavering patience. The parents see what's happening and call for the toddler to come back, but they are ignored because, well, it's a kid and that's what kids to. Next thing you know, they are in my face screaming at me to get my dog away from their child and threatening to report me for being unable to 'maintain effective control' of my animal. Yep, you heard it, report me for their child approaching my dog on an off-lead beach! Now, I don't think you have to be Nostradamus to predict my reaction. I was incensed. In fact, the only thing that stopped me going completely postal back at them was the sight of a large labrador attacking their picnic while they had a go at me. Loading I ended up leaving the beach that day because I know that as a dog owner, I have little to no rights. The parents who couldn't 'maintain effective control' of their child behaving like, well, a kid, will always win. And I am frankly tiring of it. Surely, we owners should get a break for the temerity of having a dog that acts as, well, a dog in a space allocated for just that. It appears that's not about to happen. In fact, things are likely to get worse with news that some NSW councils are pushing to increase fines and penalties on owners. This isn't trivial, considering the maximum fine an NSW council can issue is $330 for breaking off-leash walking rules, while not picking up after your dog is $275. Waverley Council is even going as far as advocating for dog owners to attend pet ownership training. I wonder how the public would react if the same penalties were placed on parents for unruly children? A misbehaving child in a restaurant, say $250? A child screaming on a plane, well, now that would be a revenue earner … The reality is these councils pushing for extra penalties should do some homework to get an accurate gauge on its constituents' wants, needs and lifestyles. Birth rates in this country are declining and the reality is that, like the UK, more and more Australians are actively making a lifestyle choice to 'parent' a dog rather than a biological child – and I am unashamedly one of them. My life, my choice. I have no complaints; regardless of what others may think. I don't disrespect those who choose to have children and, as such, wouldn't mind a bit of respect and grace coming back my way for my choices.
The Age
03-06-2025
- General
- The Age
Does Sydney have a ‘pet etiquette' problem? These councils think so
Sydney dog owners caught leaving their pooches off leashes or failing to keep their canine friends in check could face increased fines as part of a council push for tougher pet penalties that has had some dog owners barking mad. Increased fines and requirements for dog owners to attend responsible pet ownership training are among measures multiple local councils say could address breaches of responsible pet ownership rules and a 'troubling' decline in pet etiquette in Sydney's outdoor areas. The case for tougher penalties has been made to a NSW government review of companion animal legislation, which is considering changes to enforcement powers for all councils across NSW. Waverley Council has argued tougher penalties, including the ability to compel dog owners to attend responsible pet ownership training, could address the increase in dogs being walked off-leash in non-designated areas, as well as reports of rangers experiencing 'abuse' and 'coordinated online harassment by groups opposing leash laws'. Randwick Council also wants stronger enforcement powers, arguing: 'Many residents have reported off-leash dogs harassing children and wildlife' as well as 'owners neglecting to pick up dog droppings, leaving mess in parks'. In NSW, councils can issue maximum fines of $330 fines for breaking off-leash walking rules – less than half the $806 fine in Queensland – while the fine for failing to pick up dog faeces is set at $275. Randwick dog walker Rod Dee believes pet owners are being unduly 'targeted' by the 'revenue-raising' exercise. 'Since COVID, dog ownership numbers have increased which means dogs are more visible in the area and not everyone likes dogs which means there's probably more complaints to councils,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Does Sydney have a ‘pet etiquette' problem? These councils think so
Sydney dog owners caught leaving their pooches off leashes or failing to keep their canine friends in check could face increased fines as part of a council push for tougher pet penalties that has had some dog owners barking mad. Increased fines and requirements for dog owners to attend responsible pet ownership training are among measures multiple local councils say could address breaches of responsible pet ownership rules and a 'troubling' decline in pet etiquette in Sydney's outdoor areas. The case for tougher penalties has been made to a NSW government review of companion animal legislation, which is considering changes to enforcement powers for all councils across NSW. Waverley Council has argued tougher penalties, including the ability to compel dog owners to attend responsible pet ownership training, could address the increase in dogs being walked off-leash in non-designated areas, as well as reports of rangers experiencing 'abuse' and 'coordinated online harassment by groups opposing leash laws'. Randwick Council also wants stronger enforcement powers, arguing: 'Many residents have reported off-leash dogs harassing children and wildlife' as well as 'owners neglecting to pick up dog droppings, leaving mess in parks'. In NSW, councils can issue maximum fines of $330 fines for breaking off-leash walking rules – less than half the $806 fine in Queensland – while the fine for failing to pick up dog faeces is set at $275. Randwick dog walker Rod Dee believes pet owners are being unduly 'targeted' by the 'revenue-raising' exercise. 'Since COVID, dog ownership numbers have increased which means dogs are more visible in the area and not everyone likes dogs which means there's probably more complaints to councils,' he said.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Iconic Christmas party under threat
An iconic Christmas event is under threat as residents demand sniffer dogs, bag checks and an Uber blackout to shut down the rowdy party. Every year on December 25 thousands of people flock to Bronte Beach for the 'Orphan's Christmas' backpacker event. Last year up to 15,000 people, who were largely backpackers and visitors, attended the impromptu beach party, leaving the area trashed the following day. Outrage has been building in recent years over the state of the beach, with the grass area often resembling a rubbish-strewn wasteland everyoxing Day. At a fiery public forum hosted by Waverley Council on Monday night, residents described the infamous Bronte Beach bash as a booze-fuelled 'mass urinal' and demanded urgent action to 'break the cycle' of chaos that unfolds each year, The Daily Telegraph reported. Ideas, reportedly floated by residents, included banning alcohol entirely, geofencing the suburb to block ride-share pick-ups, and flooding the area with police and drug detection dogs to send a clear message that the beachside suburb would no longer tolerate unruly revellers. One man said that last Christmas, 'a thousand people' bolted up his street within 10 minutes of the drug dogs arriving. The community forum was initially designed to gather feedback on four official options ranging from continuing the event unmanaged, to implementing a paid, ticketed, alcohol-free version complete with a 1km fence at a cost of at least $90,000. However, attendees rejected all of them, proposing instead a fifth solution, to stop endorsing it all together. 'All they want to do is party, so we need to get a message out … we're not going to let them abuse our area anymore,' one resident said. Alma Douglas, the chair of the association Bronte Precinct, questioned why locals had to keep tolerating the annual chaos. 'We can get rid of it. Why do we have to have it? Why are we accepting that it has to be here?' she said. Nearby resident Joel Stuhler said the official options only 'condoned the behaviour'. 'There's broken glass outside my home, vomit on my driveway, people making out outside my house, my neighbour got parked in for six hours, it's just mayhem,' Mr Stuhler said. One man described the laneway behind his house becoming a 'mass urinal', while a woman recounted watching someone get 'knocked out cold' in a fight and then continue drinking after regaining consciousness. At the end of the forum, Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh conceded change was needed. 'Council will look at enhancing increased communication and get the message out there that what has occurred is not sustainable and we will not accept that,' he said. The public outcry follows years of local frustration over the growing size and cost of the Christmas Day event. Last year, an estimated 15,000 mostly young international travellers flooded the beach, leaving behind mounds of rubbish and sparking calls for state government intervention. Waverley Council spent $60,000 managing last year's Christmas Day party and $75,000 maintaining a police presence during the summer period. The council is now moving to formally request funding support from the NSW Government. Mayor Nemesh warned the event is 'currently unsustainable' and that costs for crowd control, lifeguards, rangers, cleaners and security should not fall solely on local ratepayers. Despite this, a NSW Government spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph its position had not changed. 'Waverley Council collects significant revenue from beaches in its local government area including millions each year in parking revenue,' the spokesperson said. 'Every council in NSW manages the maintenance of its beaches including events, and Waverley Council should be no different.'
