Community Engagement
Port Denison Foreshore Redevelopment
The Port Denison foreshore is clean and picturesque and predominantly used for recreation, water activities (including swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, boating and fishing) and civic events.
Whilst the foreshore is well known by locals, it offers limited and outdated amenities and falls well short of being a tourism attraction or indeed the community hub that it has the potential to be.
Since 2013, the Shire of Irwin has worked with consultants and the community to develop the Foreshore Master Plan, aimed at revitalising the area through improved access, infrastructure, and amenities across five distinct precincts.
The focus now turns to delivering the Foreshore Core Precinct — the most vital and high-impact stage of the plan — aligning with community aspirations and the Shire’s goals to enhance liveability, boost tourism, and create new opportunities for events and cultural activities.
As a part of this vision, the Shire of Irwin has engaged GHD to design a new playspace and pavilion along Point Leander Drive between the heritage jetty and the site of the existing shelter sheds. The project aims to create an inclusive, vibrant foreshore destination for play, relaxation, and community events.
Project Update
Key features include:
- All-ages, all-abilities playspace
- Pavilion with seating, amenities, and kitchenette
- Event-friendly forecourt
- Preservation of heritage alignment with interpretative elements
- Open lawn areas with water views
Two concept designs were developed through collaborative workshops with the Shire and Councillors, with a final detailed concept now ready for community feedback.
Input from the community will be scheduled in the coming weeks and will inform the detailed design phase, which is expected to begin in early 2026, with construction anticipated to commence mid-2026.
Concept Design
The proposed landscape concept for the Port Denison Foreshore Playspace and Pavilion responds to key site conditions, including strong coastal winds, solar exposure and the alignment of the seawall. The design celebrates the site’s coastal character and heritage, reflecting Port Denison’s maritime identity while creating a welcoming and inclusive public space.
Community expectations are met through spaces that balance diverse needs, offering areas for active play, quiet relaxation and flexible community events. The layout capitalises on opportunities such as uninterrupted ocean views and open green areas. A continuous promenade path runs behind the seawall, featuring seating nodes, pause points and lookouts.
Heritage interpretation is embedded along the boulevard walk, aligned with the heritage jetty and William Street and culminates in a shaded seating structure with interpretative plaques. The new pavilion includes dual access points, a kitchenette, toilet block and BBQ facilities, maintaining strong visual and physical connections with the playspace and foreshore.
The inclusive playspace caters to all ages, featuring a shaded junior zone with a sea lion themed play area and a mixed-age zone with custom designed obelisk inspired play structures, flying foxes, trampolines, spinners and nature play zones with soft fall surfaces.
The design maintains the “green carpet” effect across the foreshore, offering flexible open spaces for recreation and community events, while preserving historic alignments and ocean views as defining elements of Port Denison’s character.
