Going to the dogs

Doggy circuit proposed in Ward Park Tewantin with link to the marina.

This is Concept 5 from Tom Draper, his final professional engineering article for the time being.

It is a major departure from the 7 Star hotel proposal Tom presented last Friday in Concept 4.

The daily task for those of you that love your dogs and in addition need a bit of exercise yourselves, is to walk the dog.

A little separation from passing automobiles and some quietude ‘off the beaten track’ may seem desirable.

Well, one does not have to travel very far In Tewantin, (the ‘lovely place’), to do this. Known and used regularly by some dog owners is Tewantin’s Memorial Ward Park.

It has been observed over the years, that dog walkers keep their animals on a leash most of the time, which is fine since there is a childcare centre on the western border and a children’s play area in the north-east.

It is alarming, however, for one to see from time to time, e-bicycles and e-scooters racing through the park at breakneck speeds, scaring most out of their wits.

It is time to ‘nip the flower in the bud’. It is suggested that signs be placed at the 5 Ward Park entrances stating ‘dismount from all e-ride devices before entering’. An appropriate fine could be posted.

Now, on the matter of ‘FLOW’.

The Morrindil Street Child Care Centre is at the west end of the park.

First time park visitors and dog walkers entering from the east find themselves walking right up to the dead end fence surrounding the childcare centre from inside the park on a concrete path. It’s very disconcerting.

If the offending section of paving was demolished it would not be missed.

The conflicting area could be returned to public garden with suitable plantings to screen kiddies mesh-fenced outdoor play area integrating in to a proposed buffer zone. (See below).

A grand loop within the park is already being taken from time to time by adventureous walkers in dry weather. This year, however, it has been far too soggy for most.

On the matter of dog walking in particular, it would be most agreeable for dog owners if they had a concrete paved circuit within the park. See Drawing TDP-0056 hereby.

It should be separated from the childcare centre by a treed buffer zone. The buffer would surely be appreciated by management. (See drawing).

The park is also a transit area routing shoppers and tourists every which-way.

For some inconceivable reasonc however, while a diagonal path from Ward Street to the heart of the shopping centre exists, there is no direct path for pedestrians from the Shell Station to Blakesley Street, Cardell Road and Noosa Marina.

To correct the forgoing see the accompanying drawing which depicts a long awaited bypass to complete the before mentioned Marina route.

A couple of swirls (short paths) adjacent to the bypass would be most sensible for dog walkers, one to close the circuit within the park, and the other to take dog owners to the doggy-doo bags dispenser.

Its sensible town planing, while only minor, not the advice of a special interest group.

That’s it folks. It is hoped you found the unbiased 5 Concepts over the last five weeks of interest.