Positioning

Best practice guidance for the placement and arrangement of embellishments

Site setout

Providing a DOLA should not impede on the functionality of the adjoining park infrastructure and spaces as outlined in the ELS and RPP.

Ensure that the minimum size metric for kick and throw areas is not compromised.

Fenced DOLAs

Activity elements

Within the DOLA, separate the activity elements (run area, agility equipment, rummaging area) to ensure the free running area is clear of obstacles.
Ensure line of sight for dog owners/handlers to have good surveillance throughout the park if possible, to keep their dogs under control.
Position rummaging areas at the edges to provide a refuge or quieter space for smaller dogs, where planting or mounds can reduce the opportunity for collisions.
Mounds, gullies, dry creek beds and rocky outcrops could be retained if they are naturally occurring in the park and don’t compromise drainage or provide escape routes.

Clarify entry

Group embellishments outside the entry to provide clarity and a reference point:
- Primary entrance - a park activity entry sign in a garden bed, regulatory signs on the fence beside entry gates, and a waste bin and dog bag dispenser.
- Secondary entrances - a park activity entry sign in a garden bed, regulatory signs on the fence beside entry gates, and dog bag dispenser.

Link areas

Provide a pathway from the car park to the DOLA primary entry and across the fenced area to the secondary entry gate, and from the secondary gate to a path connecting to the car park.
Provide pathway connection to nearby facilities i.e. accessible shaded seating, drinking fountain, public amenities.
Provide pathway connections to external pathway networks.
Changes of material, level changes, signage and seating can also assist to define desired movement areas and delineate borders.

Safety

Position infrastructure such as taps and seats, away from the entry/exit gates to avoid congestion.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles apply.
Locate objects away from fences to prevent dogs using them as a springboard to escape (>2.0 m).

Trees

Align fences away from trees to avoid root damage and the need for tree pruning

See the following for further guidance:

Figure 1: Example plan – Key embellishment requirements a DOLA
Figure 2 Example plan – Council-wide DOLA
Figure 3: Example plan – District DOLA
Figure 4: Example plan – Local DOLA (All dog sizes)
Figure 5: Example plan – Local DOLA with separated small dog area
Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint.

Figure 1: Example plan – Key embellishment requirements a DOLA

Unfenced DOLAs

Activity elements:

The run area is the most important activity (for exercise and ball throwing) and should be free of obstacles, ideally 70 m or longer.

Clarify entry

Group embellishments at the primary access to the unfenced DOLA to provide a reference point. These includes regulatory signs indicating which part of the park is an off leash area.

Link areas

Provide a pathway leading from the car park to the DOLA access. Provide a pathway through the unfenced DOLA to facilities i.e. accessible shaded seating and dog bowls.

Standards of service for DOLAs

DOLA hierarchies

Refer to the DOLA desired standards of service in the Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint. The plan outlines the standards of service, which considers a number of key elements including dog registration numbers, population density and lot sizes.

Council-wide DOLAs

Refer to Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint (p44), for Council-wide dog off leash area (DOLA) desired standards, with core and optional embellishments.

Figure 2: Example plan – Council-wide DOLA

District DOLAs

Refer to Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint (p46), for district dog off leash area (DOLA) desired standards, with core and optional embellishments.

Figure 3: Example plan – District DOLA

Local DOLAs

Refer to Dog Exercise Area Regional Plan and Network Blueprint (p48), for local dog off leash area (DOLA) desired standards, with core and optional embellishments.

Figure 4: Example plan – Local DOLA (All dog sizes)

Figure 5: Example plan – Local DOLA with separated small dog area

Note: Also see Dog exercise areas (DEAs) - Design – Signage and wayfinding for guidance on sign types and requirements.

Clearances

See the following for further guidance:

Table 4: Positioning guidance offsets - overarching
Table 5: Positioning guidance offsets - fenced (off leash)
Table 6: Positioning guidance offsets - unfenced (off leash).

Table 4: Positioning guidance offsets - overarching

Embellishment	Distance from	Minimum distance	Reason
DOLA	Play spaces	Best practice would be to locate the two activity types in separate parks. Site specific design required for all other layouts.	Avoid locating DOLAs near play spaces, particularly all-abilities play spaces. Sunshine Coast Regional Council Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 states that all animals are prohibited within 5.0 metres of a children’s playground or BBQ facility.
DOLA	Facility (activity) entry sign	Install at entry, garden bed preferred.	For regulatory guidance

Table 5: Positioning guidance offsets - fenced DOLA

Embellishment	Distance from	Minimum distance	Reason
Fence	Seat (or other embellishments)	2.0 m+	To prevent dog escapes
Gate	Gate	1540 mm x 2070 mm circulation	Wheelchair turning space – in dual entry gate.
Dog agility equipment edge	Any other items	2.5 m	For deck mower clearance (where possible) to avoid creating small, difficult to mow areas.
Bin and dog bag dispenser	Truck collection point	No more than 80 m	For waste servicing
Embellishments inside the fenced DOLA – dog drinking bowl, seating, etc	Gate entry/exit	10 m	Locate away from entry/exit points to avoid congestion of use.
Dog run area	Any obstacles e.g. seats, dog agility equipment	Dog run area should be free from any obstacles	For safety - exercise and ball throwing. It is important to locate agility equipment away from free running areas to prevent accidents.

Table 6: Positioning guidance offsets - unfenced DOLA

Embellishment	Distance from	Minimum distance	Reason
Bin and dog bag dispenser	Truck collection point	No more than 80 m	For waste servicing
Dog drinking bowl	Children’s playground or Barbecue facility	5.0 m	Do not install dog infrastructure within 5.0 m of a children’s playground or barbecue facility (as per Council Local laws, dogs are prohibited in these areas).
DOLA embellishments	Edge of pathway	500 mm	For pedestrian and cyclist safety, comply with Austroads 500 mm min offset from path edge to any obstacle.

Disclaimer

Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.

All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.

This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.

Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.

Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.

This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.

Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.