IF the canine-loving humans of Beaudesert had tails, they would be wagging with glee at the prospect of the town finally getting its long-awaited dog park.
At time of print Council did not yet have a planned opening date to give the Bulletin, but all eyes were on Lions Bicentennial Park on Tom Enright Drive as the project inched closer to completion.
When work started on the dog park late last year it was hoped the park would be open before Christmas, but patches of heavy rain, flooding and boggy conditions in that part of town have caused delays.
When the Bulletin caught up with Council in late January, they were set to pour the remaining section of concrete as long as the concrete truck didn’t get bogged, and the dog park fence was about 70 per cent complete.
Water supply had been installed, bin enclosures, signs and seats were doing to be installed in the coming weeks and the parks team had been engaged to complete a garden as part of the project.
Lions Bicentennial Park and adjoining land usually used for Jeune Park parkrun have been heavily bogged over summer so far, causing disruptions not only to the progress of the dog park but also parkrun itself.
The community of Beaudesert was thrilled when Council announced funding for the dog park in June 2024.
At the time, Cr Jennifer Sanders announced Council’s commitment to fund $100,000 for an off-leash dog park in Beaudesert. She said it had been a long time coming since at least 2012, when she advocated for it during her previous term of Council.
When Council announced the funding in 2024, Portfolio Councillor for Parks Gardens and Open Spaces, Amanda Hay, said Beaudesert dog park design would be based on the design of the recently opened dog park in Boonah.
“There are many benefits to dogs and owners,” she said.
“It presents greater opportunities to exercise and socialise and provides mental stimulation for the dogs.”
“We’ve allowed $100,000 in the budget for this but I’m hopeful we might achieve under budget given that we are basing it on the Boonah model.”
