ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Though Betoota Heights is essentially a quiet grid pattern with two main streets, local fitness fanatic, Peter Douglas, says he’s only able to do his morning and afternoon jogs down the busiest streets when foot traffic is at its heaviest.

“It’s a real inconvenience,” said the 34-year-old.

“I’m trying to do my cardio and there’s just a sea of slow walking soft bodies getting in the way of me. Honestly, don’t get me started. I wish there was another way for me to get my heart rate up but yeah, running up and down Collins and Mayne Road is the only way,”

“And I can only do it between 5 and 6 in the arvo and just after 7 in the morning. I’ve been lobbying to the Shire Council to put running lanes in for us fast movers – but the mayor just told us to run down a quieter street. Who’ll see me exercise there?”

“Another thing is when I start coughing and everything from absolutely flogging myself, people look at me like I’ve just shot John Howard! We’re in Queensland, people! There’s no virus up here!”

The Advocate reached out to Mayor Keith Carton, who also represents Betoota Heights as a Councillor, for comment on the matter.

But his version of events doesn’t align with that of Mr Douglas.

“He accosted me down at the Sailing Club last week and demanded that I consider people like him and their right to exercise wherever he wants – including Collins St of an afternoon,”

“I told him that everyone else has a right to be there just as much as he did, to which he exploded. I said there’s acres of parkland, quiet quaint streets and even a number of 24-hour gyms he could use – but he insisted he’s only able to run up and down busy roads,”

“It was 5:30 pm last Thursday so I really was not in the mood so I had him removed from the club and had the bouncers throw his New Balances in the lake. Next time, I’ll have his legs broken.”

More to come.