It might be difficult for some to believe that this lake was once a road. We first started coming to his park almost twenty years ago when it was called Bicentennial Park. It had clearly missed that anniversary as it was largely an uneven wasteland full of rubble and weeds and patches of abandoned fencing wire.

It was a wild and free place that all of our dog family have appreciated as their weekend treat. From the moment they get in the car the excitement mounts and the closer we get the louder the whining, keening and (dare I say) caterwauling becomes.

Gradually the park has improved, sometimes imperceptibly. It seemed like the Council had only one staff member working on it part-time. More recently, it has become a place of great beauty as all the years of effort have finally become apparent. And it has been renamed Sydney Park. There are nesting pairs of black swans and cormorants that perch on their designer weathered poles just as the landscape architect had planned. For a while there was a large white duck that lived on the central island with its feral mate amongst the grebes and water hens.

This is now even a destination for groups of Chinese tourists. And the grassy hills with the old brick kiln chimneys behind are a favourite image for advertisers.

As it is mostly off-leash it is popular with dogs and their owners. The dogs love the space and freedom and all the exotic sniffs whilst the owners enjoy the water views. We hope it doesn’t become too popular as crowding will detract from its peacefulness, so please don’t tell anybody. This is just between you and me.