After many years of lobbying by community members, and with support from the MADCA, the Mapleton off-leash dog park officially opened on Tuesday 4th October 2022. The MADCA was pleased to have played a part in this successful project.

Hank Wade, tireless campaigner for the dog-park, and generous sharer of ‘dog-park’ updates, was the official ribbon-cutter at the opening ceremony. Whilst the current councillor David Law, saw the project’s completion, former MADCA president, Burnie Collins, recalled walking the Mapleton area with then Counsellor Greg Rogerston, to identify potential sites for the dog-park. The MADCA hosted well-attended community information evenings in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council who hosted a feed-back section in the “Have Your Say” section on their website.

"The turning point in our push for progress was the MADCA Meet the Candidates Night… for the last Council election. So many of you from our mailing lists showed up, I think it impressed all the candidates with Mapleton’s desire for a Dog Park and they all left that meeting thinking “Right, Mapleton equals Dog Park”. David Law was elected and has enthusiastically pushed our project through Council in just on two years. The Dog lovers of Mapleton are very grateful to you Councillor David! We just can’t thank you enough”.
Hank Wade, Campaigner.