Sept. 23, 2014, 4:27 p.m.

POLL: Wollongong City Councils controversial move to strip northern Illawarra dog owners of three off-leash beach areas was based on 25 complaints from just 15 households, campaigners have revealed.

David Hurley, Candice Greenwood and Gus Doyle, 4, with dogs Arthur and Murray on Little Austinmer beach. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR

Wollongong City Councils controversial move to strip northern Illawarra dog owners of three off-leash beach areas was based on 25 complaints from just 15 households, campaigners have revealed.

Complaints about dogs on McCauleys, Little Austi and Sharkeys beaches represented less than a third of all complaints about dogs on beaches made to council between July, 2012 and March, 2014.

Of those 25 complaints, more than half were made by the same three households, according to information supplied to the Illawarra Dog Community group under the Government Information (Public Access) Act.

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Committee member David Hurley said it was worrying that a mere handful of complaints prompted councillors to propose sweeping changes to councils existing dogs on beaches and parks policy.

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Claim dogs on beaches policy changed because of 25 complaints