As the Sandhills Wetlands Project nears completion, Byron Shire Council (BSC) is asking for community input into the idea of making it a Wildlife Protection Area (WPA) where dogs would be prohibited.
Located behind Lawson and Massinger streets in Byron Bay, the Sandhills project is a major environmental restoration initiative involving the rehabilitation of wetlands destroyed by sandmining in the 1960s and 1970s.
The project aims to improve water quality at Clarkes Beach, manage stormwater, increase biodiversity, and create a cultural and recreational space for the community.
Dog-free wildlife protection area?
The restoration is nearly complete and a proposal is now being considered by BSC to make the area a dog-free WPA.
According to the Council, ecological surveys have identified a number of threatened fauna species in the area, including the sooty owl, the wallum froglet, and the grey-headed flying fox.
There are also a number of vulnerable flora species at the site, including the stinking cryptocarya and the fine-leaved tuckeroo.
A WPA is a public place that is set aside for the protection of wildlife, where dogs are prohibited, and signage is clearly displayed.
Council can only make the Sandhills wetlands a ‘dogs prohibited area’ following a public exhibition period to gather community feedback.
To have your say, go to the ‘Your Say’ section of Council’s website (https://yoursay.byron.nsw.gov.au) and look for the Sandhills Wetlands Project tile.
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