Zac and Fiona are regular cafe visitors
By Renee Ciesla
Visitors to Coogee Beach, south of Fremantle, have been given the opportunity to express their views on having dogs at their local beach.
The City of Cockburn is consulting with the community to decide if the area surrounding Coogee Beach, that currently allows dogs, should be changed.
The dog-friendly Coogee Beach Café will be immediately affected if the proposed plans are successful because dogs will be prohibited from a section of the Powell Road Reserve.
Coogee Beach Café employee, Emma Balatti, said dogs are important part of the business’ atmosphere.
“Lots of people come in with their dogs so it definitely will affect our business,” she said.
“Our customers will be more than likely to go somewhere that welcomes dogs.”
“Considering we’ve never had any issues with dogs I don’t think a ban would be appropriate.”
Regular café visitor and dog owner, Zac Arena-Foster, isn’t impressed with the proposal.
“It’s a place where my girlfriend and I come all the time and bring our dog Fiona,” he said.
“She [Fiona] absolutely loves the place and the people.”
“I’ll definitely have to look at other places to go if she’s not welcome.”
City of Cockburn Mayor, Councillor Logan Howlett, said if the proposal is successful, dog owners would still have a number of alternatives in the area.
“We’ve already got extensive dogs exercise areas along the beach, CY O’Connor for example,” he said.
But father of two Sean Moodie doesn’t believe it should come to this.
“It doesn’t bother me at all if other people have dogs while I’m here, I’ve always thought it was a good thing,” he said.
“That’s why I like coming to Coogee Beach Café, you can choose to sit inside or outside and if you want to bring a dog, you can bring a dog.”
The community forum is open until the 23rd of November through an online survey.
The survey is available here: