The three trial dog off-leash beach access locations that were in use in the winter months last year in North Cowichan won’t be made permanent.
Council decided at its meeting on Jan. 19 not to make the three locations, which are in or near foreshore areas, permanent after hearing opinions from the public in a survey.
Staff also pointed out the temporary sites are close to existing off-leash beach areas.
The three locations are the Pender Street stairs in Genoa Bay, the foreshore in Crofton Beach Park and the foreshore from Cook Street to Vista Grande stairs in Chemainus.
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In January, 2021, the municipality decided to begin the trial project to provide the public more off-leash areas, which were in effect from Jan. 1 to June 15, 2021, and Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, because the desire for more dog access to oceanfront beaches has consistently been an ongoing request from the community.
But after reviewing information and opinions of the 217 people who participated in the survey on the three locations last year, staff determined there is no strong community benefit to making the temporary off-leash locations permanent.
The survey found that 57 per cent of the 217 respondents were in favour of making the sites permanent, and 43 per cent were opposed.
“Providing off-leash facilities for dogs tends to be a divisive conversation in the community,” Don Stewart, North Cowichan’s director parks and recreation, said in a report.
“Dog owners tend to support additional off-leash areas, and non-dog owners tend to support on-leash areas. As a result, regardless of the decisions made, persons will be in opposition to the direction set.”