Pets on Coochiemudlo Island
On- and off-leash information for dog owners
Coochiemudlo Island does not currently have an unrestricted leash-free park for dogs.
Back in the day when the island’s population was much smaller, people with dogs often walked their dogs off leash on the streets, even on the beach, even though rules were in place. The island’s population has significantly increased along with dogs on the island, so has visitor numbers.
The rules have become strict to maintain a safe environment for wildlife and people, inline with the mainland and other islands. Dogs must be on a lead, other than the seasonal off-leash beach, Main Beach west of the barge, at specific times detailed below.
Dog owners on the island want a dog off-leash park. If a proposal gets underway towards this end, and if it is successful, this site will be updated with the news.
The island is biodiverse and animal-friendly
Coochiemudlo Island is a biodiverse and pet-friendly destination for visitors. There are many pet owners on the island, and visitors bring their dogs. There are rules for pet owners, inline with other places in Queensland including the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Being responsible helps keep the island an appealing environment to live and visit, into the future.
Info on this page:
No-go zones for dogs — either on- or off-leash
Dogs are not allowed on the following beaches and areas at any times:
Main Beach, east from the vehicle barge / boat ramp
Norfolk Beach (east of the island)
Melaleuca Wetlands
Morwong Beach, extending in a westerly direction to the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Victoria Parade North.
This information is from the Redlands City Council webpage about places prohibited to dogs on Coochiemudlo Island.
The entrance to the Melaleuca Wetlands, at the end of James Street, next to Norfolk Beach.
What’s biodiverity got to do with being pet friendly?
Biodiversity refers to all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, like bacteria, that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.
Our pets play a huge part in our lives as loved and valued companions and family members. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Being a pet friendly environment comes with pet-owner responsibilities — this helps limit the impact of dogs and cats in the environments that we share with other species.
During holiday time, the number of dogs on the island increases dramatically. Left unmanaged, and with the increase of traffic and people on the island, immense stress is transferred to our wildlife.
Migratory shorebirds
At different times of the year, shorebirds use Moreton Bay beaches and shorelines for resting and for breeding. Over the years, human and dog population numbers on Coochiemudlo Island have increased while migratory shorebird numbers on the island have declined. This is why Redland City Council and many island residents urge pet owners to understand that dogs are not allowed on Coochiemudlo Island’s beaches — except the seasonal dog section of Main Beach west of the barge. The seasonal times are outlined below.
Pet owner responsibilities
Why are there rules for pet owners?
Like other communities in Australia, pet owners on Coochiemudlo Island are responsible for making sure their pet doesn’t impact the health and safety of the different species we share the island with. The rules for pet owners on Coochie are the same as other islands in Moreton Bay.
These rules include:
Dogs and cats must be on leashes in public areas, including streets. See the no-go zones where at no times dogs and cats are not allowed — even on a leash.
Cats must be kept in your home and restricted from roaming. Cats must be prevented from killing birds or lizards.
Reasons why we have these rules:
Biodiversity — unleashed dogs and cats can maim or stress our native species. Our island is located in a marine park with migratory shorebirds using our shorelines for breeding and for stopovers, like other areas in Moreton Bay. Residents of Coochiemudlo who have been here since the 1990s have stories about the number of shorebirds coming to the island declining since then, as the island’s population has increased.
Community — not everyone is able to deal with an unleashed, over-excited dog that bounds up to them. People have been injured, bowled over by unleashed dogs. This is preventable by having your dog on a leash.
What if your dog is well-behaved?
The same rules apply. Rule makers understand that there are placid cats and dogs in our community who don’t hassle or chase other species. However, different rules for each pet owner would be impractical to manage.
Another reason why there is a blanket rule for all dogs and cats is that even well-behaved and trained pets can instinctually go for ‘the chase’. Your beloved family pet may not be used to seeing curlews or shorebirds wandering about or resting under bushes, and the temptation to chase is big.
Fun fact
How many dogs are on Coochie?
Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare reported that in June 2023 there were 186 registered dogs on Coochiemudlo Island. This number increases on weekends and during holiday times with visitors who bring their dogs with them to the island.