People ahead in dog plans for Busselton

Busselton City Council has voted to give people priority at beaches after its latest review of dog exercise areas.

The council passed Mayor Ian Stubbs' alternative motion on Wednesday seven votes to two, which divides the City's beaches into 28 sections of prohibited, seasonal and exercise areas for dogs.

City officers had recommended dogs be allowed off-leash in the areas designated seasonal except during the period 9am to 5pm from December 1 to April 30.

However, under Cr Stubbs' successful motion, dogs would not be allowed off-leash in the 10 seasonal areas at any time during those summer months.

Cr Stubbs said his motion was unashamedly tipping the balance in favour of people who wanted to enjoy the City's beaches free of dogs.

"There are exercise areas located all around the coast and dog owners, most of them, should be able to walk to them," he said.

Earlier, an alternative motion by Cr Jenny Green to make the majority of the City's beaches seasonal was narrowly lost four votes to five.

Cr Green said her motion would make the laws easier for residents and visitors to understand and simpler to enforce for City rangers.

Under her motion, the seasonal period would last from November 1 to April 30 but dogs would still be allowed on a lead during this period.

"There are approximately 5800 dogs registered in the Busselton region," she said.

"I believe it is the simplest way to deal with a complex issue."

Supporting Cr Green's motion, Cr Coralie Tarbotton said 98 per cent of dog owners did the right thing and the media blew the small number of dog attacks out of proportion. However, Cr Gordon Bleechmore argued the biggest issue for beachgoers was defecation from dogs and in this case many dog owners turned a blind eye.

"I believe the best approach … now is having a more regulated approach on where dogs can exercise and give the people who want to use the beach for what it's there for the privilege of having a safe, clean environment," he said.

The successful motion, which will go out for community consultation, also allows dogs to be exercised off-leash at most reserves in the city.