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.
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.
When will construction begin?
Councillors voted unanimously to accept a tender for the construction of the Foreshore Park Amenities Building at the April Ordinary Council Meeting.
The Harbour Foreshore Masterplan will be delivered in stages. Following early site preparation works undertaken last year, work will commence in the coming months to demolish the existing playground to make way for the delivery of a new kiosk and accessible public toilets in Newcastle's popular Harbour Foreshore precinct.
Latest news
24 Apr 2024 - City of Newcastle takes next step in revitalisation of Harbour Foreshore Precinct
15 Jan 2024 - Revitalised Harbour Foreshore Precinct to take shape this year
6 Sep 2023 – City of Newcastle takes next steps towards revitalisation of iconic harbourside precinct
14 Dec 2022 – Multimillion-dollar funding boost for Newcastle’s largest playground
14 Sept 2022 - Newcastle's largest playground at heart of Harbour Foreshore Masterplan
