Dog owners and their pets can again access selected foreshore reserves in Saratoga, Davistown, St Huberts Island, Kincumber and Empire Bay, following a recent suspension.

At its meeting on Tuesday 13 October 2009, Gosford City Council considered an urgency motion regarding the potential impact of its Dog Exercise Areas and Off Leash Areas to the Bush-Stone Curlew, a threatened species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Gosford City Council's Coordinator Parks, Playgrounds & Foreshores, Kim Radford said access to dogs (on and off leash) was suspended at the selected foreshore reserves while a preliminary environmental assessment was undertaken. 

"Following an initial assessment, it has now been determined that all the on leash and off leash areas at the eight locations in the areas of Saratoga, Davistown, St Huberts Island, Kincumber and Empire Bay can now be accessed by dogs 'on leash' only", said Ms Radford.

"All 'off leash' dog exercise areas are still suspended for off leash dog exercising, however dogs are permitted 'on leash' in these areas until further notice". 

"Further environmental assessments are being undertaken to determine if the off leash areas can be re-opened to off leash dog exercising", Ms Radford added.

"These assessments are expected to take several months".

Signage is being erected from 3 November 2009 to reflect the changes in the off leash exercise areas.

Affected reserves include;

• Saratoga - Pier Avenue Reserve and off leash area at Saratoga Oval
• Davistown - Illoura reserve plus designated off leash area
• St Hubert's Island - Long Arm Parade Reserve and Beach Front Parade Reserve
• Empire Bay - Sorento Road Reserve
• Kincumber - Broadwater Park and Broadwater Drive Reserve