FAQs
Existing infrastructure: Sails will not overlap or interfere with the current permanent shade structures or established trees.
Play and agility areas: To ensure safety, the sails must not be placed in line with the dog obstacle course or the natural play logs.
Maintenance access: Structures must completely clear the service gates to the south of the dog park to allow Council vehicles continued access.
Entry gates: Sails will be placed away from the entry to each park, where dogs often gather to greet those dogs and their owners and the area can get busy.
Where will the sails be located?
The final location of each sail hasn't yet been determined and will take into consideration community feedback.
Placing structural sails in a highly active dog park requires careful planning. Council officers have assessed the site and identified several critical zones where shade sails cannot be placed.
The final location must keep the southern area clear and navigate the following obstacles:
Will the shade sails cover the agility equipment?
No. For safety reasons, the sails will not be placed directly over or in line with the obstacle course or the play logs. This ensures dogs have clear visibility while using the equipment and prevents structural posts from becoming collision hazards during high-speed play
Why is the shade targeted specifically for 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM?
Data shows this five-hour window is when the sun is at its highest and UV radiation is most severe. Because the angle of the sun changes throughout the day, the sails must be angled specifically to cast their shadow over the main internal gathering spaces during these exact peak hours.
Note: shade coverage will naturally change throughout the times of the day based on the sun’s location. This means that the shade may not always fall over a particular area within the dog park at all times.
Will the park remain open during construction?
To ensure the safety of community members, dogs and contractors the dog exercise area will be closed during installation. We will endeavor to cause as little disruption to usage, and we will advise park users in advance of closures through signage at the park.
How large are the shade sails?
The proposed shade sails will be approximately 4m x 4m in size and will be designed to provide shade and reduce exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The final size of the shade sails will be confirmed during detailed design.
Will the shade sails be a permanent fixture?
The shade sails will be removed at the end of each summer season and installed again during spring the following year.