<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a controversial decision, dogs have been unleashed on a beach in Sydney's north as part of a 12-month trial, giving owners a place to walk and play with their pets morning and night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The decision for Mona Vale Beach has been in the making for over a decade, in a move that Michele Robertson from Pittwater Unleashed has called a "hard journey".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To get this far has just been amazing," she said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-cbd-arrest-man-with-firearm-arrested-after-alleged-car-jackings/21ee0e69-1b4c-49ae-bb75-4904293f2769" target="_blank"><strong><span>Man appears to point gun at police during dramatic arrest in Melbourne CBD</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The designated off-leash area is at Mona Vale Beach's south end and there are time frames for when it applies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In summer, the window runs from 5.30am to 10pm and 5pm to 9pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In winter, dogs can be unleashed from 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/12-month-leash-free-dog-trial-on-mona-vale-beach/255b8df6-ba20-497f-9e5d-bc31ff42eebe" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The move was approved at the end of August after a two-thirds majority vote from the council.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The main concern of those who opposed was the impact on the environment and people's safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-hamas-ceasefire-gaza-what-happens-next-after-hostages-prisoners-freed/c032a48f-343e-4b25-9857-4da0b86270d6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Joy, relief rule for now - but pitfalls could lie ahead for Gaza</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of the people who are opposed to having dogs on the beaches are actually dog people," said Northern Beaches Councillor Miranda Korzy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of the wildlife people have dogs."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's just they recognise that what we have here is really special."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I really hope that everyone, in the spirit of our community, works hard to make this trial work as well as it possibly can," Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>