UNLEASH AND RUN
SUBURBAN tail-waggers are in for a treat as Cairns Regional Council decides whether to create seven new fenced dog off-leash areas this financial year.
The council’s sport and community services committee is this morning expected to tick off a $1.3 million park infrastructure spend, including upgrades for nine existing playgrounds.
The city’s hounds will be the biggest winners, with new fencing, seating, signage and dog bowl taps due to pop up in parks from Palm Cove to Bentley Park by July next year. Committee chairwoman Cr Cathy Zeiger said it was all good news for parents and pooches.
“I’d like to see even more money going into it,” she said.
“It will all be happening in stages.
“Mercurio St Park (in White Rock) might be getting moved a bit further down still.
“We’re looking at the masterplan for the Tiffany St project with a big community hall and recreational fields.
“So we won’t do Mercurio first up – we want to make sure it’s in the right spot.”
Entirely new playgrounds will be built at Allen-Phillips Park in Edmonton and Clifton Beach’s St Crispin Street Park, complete with swings, edging, sand, seating, signage, bubblers and shade.
Bentley Park will get the most upgrades to existing playgrounds, with Leeuwin, Sunrise and Whereat parks all flagged for renewal.
The council allocated $1.55 million to park infrastructure in its 2018-19 Budget, meaning about $250,000 will be left over.
The surplus kitty has already been earmarked for a major upgrade at Barron Waters Park in Lake Placid.
The masterplan flags construction of expansive offleash dog areas with lake access, and a smaller 150sq m fenced zone exclusively for small dogs. A 100m-long “kickabout space” sports field with goalposts will be built, as well as two carparks with 79 spaces collectively.
The landscaped redevelopment includes a new playground area with picnic shelters, barbecues, water bubbler, bike racks and new play equipment.
Existing BMX mounds will also be reshaped and extended to create new jump circuits.