I just purchased a second hand HEQ5 pro in Townsville and the previous owner had moved the post on top of the tripod across to the other side so no the "north" leg actually points north and there is a big open area for the counterweights to swing through.
He also had a pier extension but that was more so that the moderately large refractor (Vixen NA140) he had didn't hit anything when slewing around the sky.
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