Many thanks to Malcolm Brown for alerting us to the 30/11 deadline for submissions to Parks Victoria’s dog-walking in the Mornington Peninsula National Park review. Parks Vic’s own website has a comprehensive outline of reasons for the review (the discussion paper), and outlines the four options being considered. It also provides an online form for submissions, particularly handy if you haven’t time to write a comprehensive paper. http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/mornington-peninsula-national-park/plans-and-projects/dog-walking-review To read an excellent submission, Birdlife Australia has put its contribution online: http://birdlife.org.au/documents/SUB-Mornington_Pen_Dog_walking_review_sub-Nov-2012.pdf Hooded Plovers number only around 60 on the Mornington Peninsula and their fate hangs on the result of this review. In a broader sense, the conservation values of national parks everywhere may be either eroded or confirmed. Please write SOMETHING.
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I managed for once to get a submission in for this. It’s often hard to get started on things like this: you don’t know the background, you have to wade through a website to find out how to make the submission, then you have to write it and send it.
The information is at: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/mornington-peninsula-national-park/plans-and-projects/dog-walking-review
Halfway down the page under the heading “Relevant documents” are some links to a discussion paper, maps of the current regulated areas, etc.
Under that is the “Making a submission” section. Here it is, so you don’t have to look it up: “Submissions close on 30 November 2012 can be emailed to the Project Officer on responses@parks.vic.gov.au or sent to The Project Officer, Parks Victoria at PO Box 400 Rosebud Victoria 3939.”
And the URL of the feedback form is: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0010/546283/Have-Your-Say-Feedback-Form.doc
You can just print it and fill in the boxes, or open it in Word and type your responses, then email it off. I did mine in about half an hour after reading the discussion paper (http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/546278/Dog-Walking-Discussion-Paper_Sept_2012.pdf), and I think I could have done it based on what I’ve read in this thread.
Peter Shute
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I sincerely hope that everyone who has contributed to this conversation, and everyone on Birding Aus for that matter, has taken the time to make a submission.
As a volunteer on the Mornington Peninsula, it is very frustrating to see what happens every season. Please don’t sit back and let this opportunity to do something about it slip by.
*Neil Shelley*
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There seems to be a strange reluctance in local councils to enforce local by-laws – and not just in this area. I am sure for example that if our local council sent someone round to fine all the people parking on nature strips they would more than cover their costs. Dog off-lead areas are another area where I assume councils have the responsibility but seem to do nothing. I have lived in Werribee for around 10 years, walk my dogs (on lead!) every day in an “on-lead” area and I would see dogs off-lead every day – but not once in that time have I seen a council by-laws officer.
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G’day bird observers
Not only are these plovers in trouble, so are many ducks. Yesterday in Gardiners Creek Walk, a woman with three large dogs and a young couple with her was throwing a ball out onto the pond near the reeds for the dogs to retrieve. When one of the dogs gave up chasing the ball and took off after a pair of Pacific Black Duck and their 3 very small ducklings, she started yelling at the dog which took no notice. I could not help bellow out to her “Irresponsible dog owner – how many ducklings has it in its mouth” she replied “none” I responded “the dog should be on a leash”, She replied “It is now” . “Thanks ” – was my reply.
In the last four years, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, and Chestnut Teal have all hatched eggs in Wurundjeri Walk (Blackburn South, Melbourne), but none have raised any. Dogs, foxes and cats are all still to be seen in the walk, which has the requirement that dogs be on leashes. At least half of the dogs are off their leashes.
So what do ducks do? In NZ and West Aust, they used to find safety in the suburban lakes and creeks (I hope they still do) but in Victoria, they get shot if they leave the suburbs and their offspring get eaten if they stay. What a dilemma.
Actually There are 8 more-than-half-grown Wood Ducklings wandering along the creek and feeding on the lawns of the Advent Care – Whitehorse (Old Folks Home) in Nunawading. So maybe we should invest in more aged-care facilities.
I hope somebody has a better story.
Cheers
Mike
=================== Michael Tarburton tarburton.m@optusnet.com.au ===================
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I think the difference here is that the park is 30 or 40km of ocean beaches, separated by regular headlands. A ranger can’t just stand in the middle and see all the dogs, so it’s easy for people to visit regularly and never be challenged.
Others could explain the situation with more accuracy (I’ve rarely been there), but I’m under the impression that because dogs are allowed in some places and at certain times, it’s easy for owners to claim they didn’t understand the signs. The fact that the signs are regularly removed or damaged makes it difficult to enforce the rules. If there was one simple rule – no dogs – it would be easier to enforce it.
I believe the current rules were introduced about 15 years ago, and it would appear that numerous attempts to get dog owners to comply have failed over and over. Time for a change? It must be very frustrating for those owners who do comply, and might lose access because of the others. I think I read that non compliance is around 80%?
Given that dog owners vote and there are a lot of them, I can’t see a complete ban happening, but surely at least some beaches could be protected.
Peter Shute
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Dear All, In North Sydney Council fox baiting is regularly undertaken in relatively large reserves, removed by 200m from residences. These areas are often adjacent to off-lead dog exercise areas. Signs are erected when baiting is being undertaken, alerting residents that *dogs are not allowed* because of the potential for them to take the baits. When are we going to stop molly-coddling dog owners and make them responsible dog owners. Surely a solution of on-lead areas and off-lead areas is a solution to this problem. If dog owners choose to allow their dogs to run off lead in a restricted area or when fox baiting is being undertaken, *then it is their responsibility for what happens to their animal.* I should also hope that doggy bags are provided for owners to use and dispose of dog droppings. Another solution is to get responsible dog owners in the area to do the policing and remind others by their example. If these provisions work in council areas of Sydney, I don’t know why they won’t work anywhere. It seems we have to train the dog owners to be responsible and consider others, including all wildlife. Regards Christine Melrose
We’ve spent the last few weeks in SA and Vic, and going into lots of places with signs saying “no dogs” or that they must be on a leash. In practically every one of those, dogs were not only on the loose but chasing birds without any effort by the owners to stop them. All that happened at the Yea Wetland when Bev got pawed over by a large, free-running over-friendly dog in an on-leash area was the owner said “sorry” when the whole body language was saying “you must have enjoyed that”. No effort had been made to call off the dog, which was soaking wet from its swim. A change of clothes was necessary.
Our experience is that dog-owners simply ignore signs, and the frequency and locations where this happens must mean that no-one acts to enforce the signage. An enforcement officer could raise thousands of dollars in an hour if he went to the beach at Whyalla in the afternoon and applied the fine that is indicated on signs.
So, and I apologise to any dog-owners who do keep their pets responsibly, I think the future is bleak because there are far too many owners who do not consider others or the wildlife.
Peter Morgan
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Given that dog restriction signs are regularly torn down, I think they’d be onto that one fairly quickly.
On a related note, according to the information on the Parks Victoria website, fox baiting programs are hindered by fears that dogs will take the baits. It would seem that if dogs are allowed in the park, they must be guaranteed safety.
Peter Shute
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Signs up saying poison bait laid might work – don’t have to be true
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Agreed. I saw Malcolm’s letter about it in The Age last week – eight nests destroyed already this season. What percentage is that?
It must be frustrating for the volunteers to see that happen, and more frustrating if the birding community sits back and lets this opportunity to do something about it slip by.
Peter Shute