“Over our dead bodies! BCC will not take our dog-park!”, say ANZAC Park Dog-parkers. Dog-parkers oppose both options to destroy ANZAC Park. Option 4 proposes to destroy the Dog off-leash park in the western corner of ANZAC Park which has been a meeting place for dog-lovers and dogs since 1997. It is enshrined in Qld legislation that a person in charge of a dog that is closely confined for a continuous period must ensure the dog is exercised or allowed to exercise itself.BCC mentioned that they intend to relocate the dog park within ANZAC Park, and guess where? – on the hill area where the Diggers' ashes are scattered. So our dogs will be going to the lavatory on the ashes of our Diggers!
We love and care for our dogs and we have made some great new friends over the years at the dog-park. This is an important community meeting area in Toowong. Over our dead bodies!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
ReplyDeleteGRRRRRRR!
ReplyDeleteWhat next ... grrrr indeed! We moved away from Toowong over 12 months ago, but I still drive back to walk my dog around the park several times a week, it is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteQuite a few drive from other areas of Brisbane so their dogs can catch up with dog-friends. We were the only dog-park in the area which wasn't flooded. A dog-parker posted on BCC facebook page at the time of the floods a notice welcoming all dogs and people to come to ANZAC Park to use the park and carry on with their lives as much as possible in such a difficult time - many came and new friendships have been formed.
ReplyDeleteLordy, Lordy!! Cr Newman
ReplyDeleteNow we have to consider another Option – it is not just as Chanel 10 News put it so well - Anzac Park being bulldozed for a Legacy Way Workfore Car Park it’s the possibility of car parkS (plural). Currently the car park for the Off-Leash Dog Park at the western end is located outside the dog park fenced area - totally separate and a safe distance away from the main Anzac Park area where the children’s amusement facility and visitors barbeque and picnic tables etc. are located. This works extremely well and was obviously considered when planning the dog park back in 1977. For safety and car parking reasons there needs to be two designated areas within the park one for dogs playing, socialising and exercising and the other for childrens and visitors recreational and sporting purposes.
It appears now there is an additional Option to consider - BCC’s Option 4 and Option 4.1 -and at what cost! If BCC relocate the dog park to the top of the hill in the main Anzac Park area (location approximately middle of the park) what happens to car parking for dog parkers? Surely it is right for us to assume if BCC demolish one very workable facility they should replace it with an equivalent or even better facility. Currently the car parking within Anzac Park is limited but more importantly, separately designated as mentioned. It’s not feasible to have children and dogs getting out of cars alongside each other. It is a fact of life that some children and adults do not feel safe and confident around dogs. Furthermore, the recreational area of Anzac Park is a natural habitat for ducks on and around the pond. Therefore if a separate car park is assumed to be provided outside the relocated Off-Leash Dog area then there will be further bulldozing to provide car parking – further bulldozing on the Memorial and Heritage land within Anzac Park. If there is to be no dog parkers car parking provided then what – parking in the streets or parking in the Legacy Way Workforce car park area – I don’t think so!!
Another point is that proposed hill area is the only area where temporary marquees etc can be set up for community campaigns/fundraising events. It was only last year that BCC set up a wonderful area (information marquees, stage for bands etc) to launch the planting on the one millionth tree as part of Brisbane's Two Million Tree planting project. Cr Newman himself planted the ‘one millionth tree’ in Anzac Park and unveiled the plaque. However, with this Workforce parking issue it makes a mockery of the project – on one hand the community are planting trees and on the other BCC are cutting down established trees in Anzac Park that have been there for decades and hold memorial and heritage significance. Certainly mixed messages Cr Newman!
The question as to where BCC intended to relocate the Dog off-leash park was asked by a FAPT Representative at the Workforce Parking Consultation Meeting on 24 February. The answer was that it would be relocated to the hill area and that there would be parking located near the relocated Dog off-leash. Again there were no diagrams provided and this proposal was not in writing anywhere. They seem to be determined to dig up the main area of the park for car park spaces any way they can.
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