Win for dog walkers at Evans Head

Evans Head’s Airforce Beach will see and extension to its off-leash dog walking zone by 230m to the south, towards Main Beach, lengthening the total dog walking area from 1.45km to 1.68km.

The decision was made at Tuesdays Richmond Valley Council meeting.

The extended off-leash zone now includes a 380m area where 4WD vehicles are not permitted on the beach.

Richmond Valley Council General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said Council had received feedback from residents to see this area extended during public consultation over the future of off-leash zones in Evans Head.

He said this solution was an alternative to fencing the second off-leash area in Evans Head, situated within Coast Guard Park near the Fishermen’s Co-op.

‘Council consulted extensively with the Evans Head community about the option of fencing the off-leash area within Coast Guard Park,’ Mr Macdonald said.

‘An alternative option was also put forward to move the off-leash area to Paddon Park, and install fencing there.

‘However, there was no clear consensus over a preferred option, with some strong submissions against fencing either area, six submissions for the current area to stay as is, and eight submissions for Paddon Park to be the area of choice.’

Council will also install a pet-friendly water fountain at the Currajong Street entrance to Airforce Beach, and additional signage and doggie bags at the informal beach entrance just south of the intersection of Cudgerie and Beech streets.

Mr Macdonald said some residents had also expressed a desire to see an extension to the area of the Airforce Beach dog walking area where vehicles were prohibited.

‘It’s understandable that dog walking enthusiasts would like to have a longer area to exercise their dogs away from vehicles,’ he said.

‘As Council had allocated $25,000 for the fencing project, this money will be reallocated into upgrading dog walking amenities at the Airforce Beach entrances and the delivery of other relevant infrastructure.’