Tweed dog’s ‘breakfast’ to help shorebird protection

A ‘dog’s breakfast’ will be held at Hastings Point on Saturday morning to help inform pooch owners of a proposed new exclusion zone at the mouth of Cudgera Creek on the Tweed Coast.

The free breakfast put on by Australia Seabird Rescue and Tweed Shire Council will provide information on reducing disturbance by domestic dogs in places inhabited by beach nesting and migratory shorebirds.

Council’s waterways project officer, Matthew Bloor, said there would also be giveaways and prizes for the canines and their friends at the event, from 9am to 11am.

Mr Bloor said Hastings Point is the most important of Tweed coastal beaches for resident breeding and migratory shorebirds.

He said the exclusion of dogs from the mouth of Cudgera Creek was one of several recommendations being implemented from the 2013 Coastal Zone Management Plan for Tweed Coastal Estuaries.

‘Dogs are already excluded along the foreshore and Cudgera Creek Park, however, the sandy spit at the northern end will be restricted also,’ he said.

‘Walking dogs on-leash is allowed between Hastings Point and Pottsville Beach, as well as north of Peninsula Street, Hastings Point.

‘Walking dogs off-leash is allowed 200 metres south of Norries Headland to a point one kilometre north of Cudgera Creek and 200 metres south of the main bathing area at South Pottsville Beach to 200 metres north of Black Rocks.’

Birdlife Northern Rivers will also attend the breakfast and speak about the importance of Tweed beaches and estuaries for resident and migratory birds.

The Dog’s Breakfast will be held on the beach at the end of the walkway from Peninsula Street, Hastings Point and there is no need to register for the event.

The Dog’s Breakfast series is an Australian Seabird Rescue project funded by the NSW Environmental Trust.
For more information, contact Matthew Bloor, project officer – Waterways on 6670 2580 or visit the website.