Harbour Foreshore Precinct
We are revitalising the iconic harbourside precinct
The masterplan
We have developed a Harbour Foreshore Masterplan for the Harbour Foreshore Precinct within Newcastle’s East End. The Masterplan creates a blueprint to reinvigorate this important community precinct, including a new inclusive playspace that will be developed with our Partner, Touched by Olivia.
The Masterplan recommends options for future uses and management of the park and foreshore precinct, in line with current and future community needs and expectations. This masterplan enables us to commence a long-term revitalisation project that will help meet the City's vision to deliver a world-class harbour foreshore precinct.
Consultant's Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL), in partnership with local firm Bosque Landscape Architects, worked with us to prepare the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan. As part of the project, we also worked collaboratively with Touched by Olivia to establish options for an inclusive playspace and to promote inclusive play by enabling children of all abilities and ages to play side by side.
Phase 1 of our community engagement to assist in creating a vision for the Masterplan concepts was held in 2020. This process built on previous community consultation which was undertaken as part of a Plan of Management for the foreshore precinct in 2015.
Phase 2 community engagement in 2021 reviewed preliminary concepts for Foreshore Park while gaining a detailed understanding on the way Newcastle's residents use Wharf Road.
A Harbour Foreshore Community Reference Group was also formed to assist communication between CN and the Newcastle community as the Masterplan was developed.
The Harbour Foreshore Masterplan was placed on public exhibition from 28 September to 26 October 2022, before being adopted by council on Tuesday 13 December 2022.
The Masterplan will deliver an inclusive space for all and enhance connectivity between the city and the harbour’s edge around Foreshore Park and along Joy Cummings Promenade.
The centrepiece of the masterplan is Livvi’s Place, an inclusive regional playground and waterplay area. Livvi's Place playground will be developed in collaboration with Touched by Olivia and Variety – the Children's Charity, who have provided funding and expertise to assist with the design phase.
The playground will have a distinctly Newcastle character and pay tribute to the city's Aboriginal heritage.
Construction of the new amenities and kiosk building is progressing at Foreshore Park. The new amenities and kiosk building will serve both the planned future playground and the broader park.
The new amenities building will include:
- Space for a future kiosk
- Unisex ambulant toilets
- A parent's change room
- A changing places facility that provides suitable facilities for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.
To enable construction of the new amenities building, the existing playground at Foreshore Park was demolished. During this time, why not explore one of the 116 playgrounds across our city, including the nearby Parnell Place (Fort Scratchley).
Construction of the new amenities building will require the removal of 10 trees, which will be replaced by 12 new trees.
The construction of the new amenities and kiosk is estimated to be finished by late 2025.
The amenities and kiosk building will be complemented by Newcastle's first purpose-built inclusive playspace and waterplay area with construction set to begin late June 2025 after councillors awarded the contract for the Foreshore Park project at the March Ordinary Council Meeting.
The next stage of works will begin in late June 2025, when we break ground on Newcastle's first-purpose-built inclusive play space and water play area. Designed in collaboration with the community and Touched by Olivia Foundation, this new playspace will become a flagship destination for inclusive recreation, offering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect, play and explore.
Key features will include:
- Industrial-themed play towers with accessible walkways
- A giant whale swing
- A waterplay splash pad
- A sand-dune inspired junior nature play zone
- Picnic and seating areas
During this stage of works 34 trees will be removed and 96 new trees planted, significantly boosting future canopy cover.
Regal Innovation was awarded the tender for the detailed design and construction of the project at the March Council meeting, with the playspace expected to be completed by late 2026. Standard working hours on-site will be 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; however, to keep the project on schedule, occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required. We appreciate your patience and will make every effort to minimise any disruption during these times.
How is it funded?
The project is supported by $2.27 million from the NSW State Government through Round Nine of the Resources for Regions program, $45,000 from Touched by Olivia Childrens Charity as well as $733,000 from Rounds 6 and 7 of the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Funds Corporation.
