Kingscliff car park upgrades to enhance resilience against future weather events

The Tweed Shire Council is inviting community feedback on draft concept plans for upgrading the car parks at Cudgen Foreshore Park and Ed Parker Rotary Park in Kingscliff. These upgrades aim to enhance the recreational and aesthetic qualities of the parks while improving traffic flow and providing designated parking areas.

Located on the northern bank of Cudgen Creek, both parks along Sutherland Street offer important access to the creek’s viewing and recreational opportunities. Residents are encouraged to learn more and discuss the proposed upgrades with Council staff at Cudgen Foreshore Park on Saturday, August 10, from 9 am to 11 am.

Funding and Proposed Upgrades

The combined cost for the upgrades at both parks is $1.02 million, part of a $15.5 million funding package from the Australian and NSW governments to restore and improve community assets in Tweed that have been damaged by storms or floods.

Cudgen Foreshore Park Upgrades:

• Asphalting the internal road and parking spaces
• Installing rocks and bollards to manage vehicle movement
• Creating an accessible parking bay and connecting footpaths to picnic facilities and public toilets
• Upgrading picnic facilities with new accessible shelter and picnic settings
• Minor drainage improvements, including stormwater headwalls and a rainwater garden
• Implementing speed humps for traffic calming
• Retaining the existing Bush Stone-curlew nest and habitat area
• Additional tree planting
• Future works to include aluminium access stairs (not funded through this program)

Murray Smith, Council’s Manager of Parks & Active Communities, highlighted the benefits of asphalting the car parks, stating, “Asphalting will improve the sites by providing a smoother, more durable surface that reduces dust and mud, enhances drainage, and offers safer, more organized parking for residents and visitors.”

Smith also addressed ongoing issues with hooning behavior at Cudgen Foreshore Park, which has led to significant environmental damage and safety concerns. “Reckless driving has destroyed vegetation and wildlife habitats, causing extensive damage to turf areas and noise negatively impacting surrounding residents,” he said. “We will incorporate bollards, a mix of trees, mounded shrubs, plantings, and rocks to exclude vehicles. Over time, we will gradually remove some of the bollards and rocks as the trees grow strong enough to serve as natural barriers.”

Ed Parker Rotary Park Upgrades:

• Redesigning the car park section with a cul-de-sac at the northern end
• Asphalting car parking spaces and internal road, complete with line marking
• Adding concrete edging and connecting paths
• Installing rocks and bollards to manage vehicle movement
• Creating an accessible parking bay and connecting concrete footpath
• Implementing speed humps for traffic calming
• Additional tree planting

Smith explained the improvements for Ed Parker Rotary Park, noting that only half of the parking area is currently asphalted, with the remainder consisting of road base, which often develops significant potholes, especially after wet weather. “The proposed plan involves removing the central turning loop and converting sections of the loop road back to parkland, enhancing the recreational and aesthetic qualities of the park while improving traffic flow and access,” he said.

Additional Park Enhancements

Under the same funding program, Sutherland Point Park and Robert Dixon Park are slated for minor enhancements, pending approvals. Proposed works include:

• New accessible picnic table
• New accessible barbecue and shelter with lighting
• New drinking fountain
• New connecting path to the roadway
• New beach shower
• Minor returfing
• Native tree planting

Public Exhibition and Feedback

The draft concept plans will be on public exhibition until 4 pm on August 26, 2024. Residents are encouraged to view the concept plans and provide feedback here.

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