FAQs

The following mitigation measures have been recommended to help minimise potential impacts to the endangered shorebird community:

• Prohibited areas entirely prohibiting dog access to sensitive shorebird nesting and feeding areas.
• Improved education via more visible signage and engagement with local schools and residents.
• Visual impact screening to mitigate shorebird species taking flight due to visual disturbance by dogs.
• Improve bird hide design to reduce disturbance from pedestrians and dog-walkers.
• Minimise disturbance in the area by monitoring wider prohibited activities.
• Shorebird monitoring measuring any changes in population health resulting from changes to dog-walking restrictions.
• Joined up conservation ensuring effective and proactive working partnerships with relevant government authorities, NGOs, research groups and future developers.
• Dog faeces bins ensuring adequate disposal facilities for dog faeces and bags.
• Pedestrian traffic management ensuring centre lines are painted on all sections of the shared pathway where possible and use of short or retractable leashes encouraged.
• Surveillance and Enforcement to ensure a high level of compliance is achieved.

The Woolooware Bay Shared Pathway was designed to meet the needs of the public through provision of a well-connected shared recreational path while protecting of the environmental and heritage values of the Woolooware Bay foreshore. 

Council acknowledges the importance of the Woolooware Bay Shared Path as an active link between Taren Point and Cronulla and the desire of many local residents and visitors to be allowed to walk their dogs, while on-leash and under control, along this pathway.

The presence of off-leash dogs has been shown to incite a predator-avoidance response in shorebirds, causing them to stop feeding and take flight. Repeated disturbance events during foraging periods reduces shorebird energy intake and causes unnecessary energy expenditure every time they take flight. This can have knock-on effects on individuals’ migration and reproduction success. High levels of disturbance can also lead to the displacement of shorebirds away from preferred resting areas, and eventually can lead to the total abandonment of the site

The option to allow dogs on-leash with no mitigation measures would likely result in significant impacts to the Taren Point Shorebird Community. 

This would also trigger the need for a Species Impact Statement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act which is an extensive process.

This is not considered feasible and therefore Council is not consulting on this option.