The concept for Foreshore Park features a regional inclusive playspace and integrated waterplay area, picnic and BBQ lawn areas, landscaping, trees and shade, a number of event spaces and a cultural heritage walk.
What's changed in this concept compared to the preliminary concept released in February 2021?
In direct response to community feedback, revisions to the concept for Foreshore Park include the relocation of the inclusive 'Variety Livvi's Place' playspace with adjoining amenities and incorporated kiosk/cafe, provision for a multi-purpose roller-skating, scooting and performing arts area, and improved connections to Enterprise Park and Customs House forecourt.
Will the Sandhills Community Garden be retained?
Yes, the Sandhills Community Garden will be retained in its existing location.
What are the features of the inclusive playspace?
City of Newcastle and Variety - the Children’s Charity have been working on the design of Newcastle’s first Livvi’s Place inclusive playspace which now spans over 8,500m2. The playspace will cater for a variety of ages and abilities. It will feature shaded play areas, favourites such as swings and a flying fox, along with a water play area, quiet spaces, and a tree top walk.
Like most inclusive playspaces, the facility will be fully enclosed to reduce the risk of children wandering out of the site, away from parents and guardians. The playspace will also have accessible toilets and changerooms.
Why is the new proposed location of the inclusive playspace different to the one on the initial concept?
The revised playspace location provides an improved connection to the harbour and is closer to parking which is an important factor for those with limited mobility. The new location for the playspace is also further from residences than what was proposed in the preliminary concept (released in February 2021). The new location provides an additional 4,000m2 of playspace incorporating more picnic spaces and gardens compared to the February 2021 concept.
The new location takes advantage of the existing topography and established trees which have been used for shade, the creation of quite places and the provision of boardwalks through the canopy allowing users to transition up into the major climbing structure. The playspace elements are consistent with the preliminary concept and remain within the design. The separation from the Cultural Heritage Walk allows both elements to function independently from each other, improving circulation throughout the park.
What is happening with Tug Berth Lane?
The concept shows Tug Berth Lane as an extension of the Foreshore parkland with a shared pathway dissecting the space, retaining connections to Nobbys Beach and Bathers Way. The new parkland area will be adjacent to the harbour and provide unique opportunities to picnic on shaded lawn or terraces with uninterrupted views of the harbour, with pedestrians and cyclists passing behind.
What changes will there be to the event spaces?
Foreshore Park is Newcastle’s premier event space and currently hosts a range of large and small scale events. The concept seeks to create highly versatile spaces that are easily linked to one another through generous shaded paths. The existing fragmented spaces have been consolidated on the north-east side of the park which will allow easy access for event organisers from Wharf Road.
Tree planting within Shortland Lawn is defined in the Foreshore Plan of Management 2015 (PoM), which will ensure this space retains its unique character. The desire for a shaded events lawn area is realised in the proposed “Commons”. This generous open lawn is proposed to be tree lined with uninterrupted access to the historic rail shed and views to the harbour. The two event spaces will be linked through a formal tree grove.
Why has the frog pond been removed?
The current Plan of Management required investigation into the retention, reduction or removal of the Frog Pond. During Phase 1 community engagement, City of Newcastle (CN) asked for feedback about the future use of the frog pond. Community feedback was mixed between keeping the frog pond, removing it or repurposing it for other uses including skating. While it is a significant feature within the foreshore, the removal of the Frog Pond will greatly increase connectivity throughout the park, increase tree canopy, and provide a flexible shaded open lawn adjacent to the Rail Shed. CN has proposed reinterpretation of the Frog Pond, near the original site of the freshwater source along the Cultural Heritage Walk, enabling an accurate interpretation within the park. CN has also explored Awabakal life on the harbour through the waterplay space within the playspace.
CN has engaged with stakeholders to accommodate the needs of the roller-skating community within a versatile hardstand space at the base of Shortland Lawn amphitheatre.
How has accessibility been considered in the development of the concept?
Variety - the Children’s Charity has partnered with City of Newcastle to deliver the designs for the playspace. Their unique perspective on accessible and inclusive playspaces is invaluable in developing the concepts. Key stakeholders and accessibility advisory groups have been involved in preparation of the concept plan. Connectivity and wayfinding from public transport and carparks have been a key consideration in the placement of different elements.The park and playspace will be designed for people of all ages and abilities, and adequately cater for parents and carers alike.
Is a kiosk being considered for Foreshore Park?
Phase 1 consultation identified the desire for a kiosk or café within the park. The concept includes a café/kiosk incorporated into the new amenities adjacent to the railway shed and the playspace. This central location will become a pivotal hub of the park, be able to service many different sections of the park and remain accessible during major events.
Will there be changes to the existing buildings?
The concept proposes several changes to buildings within the park. The concept proposes amalgamating the two amenities buildings into a new purpose built building in a central location adjacent to the inclusive playspace and the railway way shed. The new amenities will contain a changing places, unisex toilets, parents room and a café/kiosk. The central location will service the whole park and is equally distanced between neighbouring public amenities at The Station and Nobbys Beach.
The removal of the two existing amenities will provide extra space for the inclusive playspace and Cultural Heritage Walk.
There are no changes planned for the railway shed.
Will the number of toilets available within the park change?
The park currently contains 17 toilets between the two amenities buildings. Through consolidation of the two buildings, this number may decrease slightly however we will benchmark the site against other high-profile locations throughout Newcastle and Australia to ensure an appropriate number of toilets are provided to service users of the park.
Will carparking around Foreshore Park change?
The concept aims to retain parking in and around Foreshore Park. The project team will work with stakeholders to establish how to best use the available spaces ensuring the provision for accessible and E-charging spots and alike meets future demands.
Wharf Road Precinct
What’s happening with Wharf Road and Foreshore Reserve?
Wharf Road and Foreshore Park are important links from the city centre to harbour and the coast.
The concept design aims to integrate improved cycling infrastructure, improved landscaping to key nodes and celebrate the harbour, transforming the harbour into a world class foreshore. The concept shows the activation of and improved pedestrian access to Lynch's Hub and Scratchleys, improvements to Joy Cummings Promenade, an improved link to Darby Plaza, an additional shared path and consolidated parking at Queens Wharf.
The concept plan has been developed in accordance with the Cycling Plan - On our Bikes, and Parking Plan - On the street, which were adopted by Council in February 2021.