Following a final decision at the City of Joondalup’s council meeting last month, the amended Animal Local Law was published in the Government Gazette on January 10 and comes into effect 14 days later.
Mayor Troy Pickard said the decision reflected the council’s original commitment to close the beach to horses when the City adopted a beach management plan in 2010.
“While I understand this is a very emotive issue for some, in recent years the City has been inundated with requests and petitions for an additional dog beach or an extension of existing dog beaches,” he said.
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READ NOW“Our City is home to about 22,000 registered dogs and we are under increasing pressure to provide improved opportunities along the coastline for the significant number of dog owners in our community.
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“Horse owners in the region are mostly from other local government areas and have been aware of the City’s intention to close the beach to horse use since 2010.
“Hillarys is now a thriving and busy residential suburb surrounded by significant infrastructure and limited coastline and is no longer the most appropriate location for a horse beach.”
From January 24, dogs will be allowed to exercise off-leash at any time within certain designated areas of the beach.
The City will also remove the parking bays for horse floats and reconfigure the carpark to accommodate additional car bays.
Signs will be installed in the carpark and along the beach to inform beach users of the change and rangers will start educating members of the public and horse owners.
To report incidents or issues, call City Rangers on 1300 655 860 – available 24/7.