Case Studies
Yorkeys Knob Foreshore
Design Feature
Type of project
Placemaking
State
Queensland
Location
Regional
The Yorkeys Knob Foreshore is a one kilometre stretch of parkland abutting a swimming beach in the northern suburbs and beaches of Cairns. The Yorkeys Knob study site encompasses Goodwood Park to the south, and the entire length of Sims Esplanade to Yorkeys Knob Foreshore Park at the Northern End. The site is popular year-round for locals and visitors for swimming, barbeques and other recreational activities. The site is one of the major kite surfing areas in Australia, and also hosts triathlons, regular community events and festivals.
The current project aims to provide a high-quality upgrade to the public open space, delivering an active and vibrant pedestrian location.
The current project aims to provide a high-quality upgrade to the public open space, delivering an active and vibrant pedestrian location.
Protecting a natural asset
The northern end of the foreshore parkland was developed to provide various recreational amenities, as well as a designated netted swimming area with surf life savers. However until 2015, the central and southern sections of the beach were largely undeveloped, facing vegetation management and accessibility issues.
In response to this, the Yorkeys Knob Community Progress Association submitted a petition to Cairns Regional Council requesting a vegetation management plan and improvement plan be prepared for the foreshore. These plans have now largely been completed.
In response to this, the Yorkeys Knob Community Progress Association submitted a petition to Cairns Regional Council requesting a vegetation management plan and improvement plan be prepared for the foreshore. These plans have now largely been completed.
The project planning commenced in July 2015 at the Council level via an initial site feature survey being obtained, followed by analysis of constraints and opportunities, preparation of a community engagement plan, consultation with Council staff and then the development of a brief for a consultant.
Several consultants were then approached, and one ultimately engaged to work with Council to develop a five-staged and costed improvement plan and vegetation management plan for the foreshore.
The process was then for Council and the consultant to collaborate in undertaking community engagement, developing the plans and presenting to the public before final endorsement by Council.
The process was then for Council and the consultant to collaborate in undertaking community engagement, developing the plans and presenting to the public before final endorsement by Council.
The extensive community engagement included:
The responses received highlighted the community’s appreciation for the vegetation, parkland, and recreational facilities. Problems identified by the community include unkept vegetation, lacking / degraded recreational infrastructure, tree litter and vermin. The community responses were high in request for a new toilet block to the southern end of Sims Esplanade, new facilities and infrastructure, improved access, new landscaping and increased maintenance. Based on the collated information, Cairns Regional Council input and professional expertise, an improvement plan was prepared for Yorkeys Knob Foreshore.
The resulting project involved a range of improvements:
The Yorkeys Knob Foreshore project works to accompany the natural beauty and attraction of a beach destination. It has been designed to provide inclusive recreational spaces for all. Both passive and active spaces have been considered. The foreshore will benefit local residents, the community of the Cairns region, and visiting tourists. The improvement project seeks to enhance the existing qualities of spaces and link them strongly with an active movement network travelling continuously north to south.
- Widespread online survey for the community,
- Presentations and discussions at public and community meetings,
- Pop up consultations at the local supermarket on weekdays and weekends,
- Direct consultation with local schoolchildren with focus on the play elements in the park
- Consultation with key stakeholders
The responses received highlighted the community’s appreciation for the vegetation, parkland, and recreational facilities. Problems identified by the community include unkept vegetation, lacking / degraded recreational infrastructure, tree litter and vermin. The community responses were high in request for a new toilet block to the southern end of Sims Esplanade, new facilities and infrastructure, improved access, new landscaping and increased maintenance. Based on the collated information, Cairns Regional Council input and professional expertise, an improvement plan was prepared for Yorkeys Knob Foreshore.
The resulting project involved a range of improvements:
- A 3 metre wide by 1.2 kilometre long foreshore shared pathway connecting the northern and southern ends of the foreshore and providing connectivity to the adjacent street, bus stop, public facilities and the beach.
- Replacement of old barbeques as well as provision of new barbeques, shelters, seating, picnic benches, bins, signage, taps and showers.
- Indigenous interpretive signage and Indigenous footpath stencils in pathways were created by, and in collaboration with, the local Yirrganydji traditional owners as a means of reinforcing a sense of place in the area.
- Three fitness stations, extension to an existing playground at the northern end and installation of a new playground at the southern end to support community engagement in physical activity.
- Construction of a new all abilities and unisex amenities facility at the southern end with storage space for local kite surfing businesses.
- Removal of weeds to create larger kite surfing preparation area and new triathletes’ area for marshalling and transition during triathlons,
- Lighting and CCTV cameras around amenities buildings and high use areas to improve safety and encourage use of the area at different times of the day and night.
- All abilities access to patrolled swimming area at the northern end of the beach and all abilities access and viewing deck at the southern end of the beach (this is still to be installed in 2018).
The Yorkeys Knob Foreshore project works to accompany the natural beauty and attraction of a beach destination. It has been designed to provide inclusive recreational spaces for all. Both passive and active spaces have been considered. The foreshore will benefit local residents, the community of the Cairns region, and visiting tourists. The improvement project seeks to enhance the existing qualities of spaces and link them strongly with an active movement network travelling continuously north to south.
Project team
- Cairns Regional Council Staff
- Traditional Owners
- Yorkeys Knob Community Progress Association
- Yorkeys Knob Public School
- Local Businesses
- Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
- Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Project Cost
$2.5 million ($1.75 million funded by the State Government via W4QLD initiative, remainder funded by Council and Yorkeys Knob Community Progress Association)
Health value
- Improved connectivity, transport and leisure outcomes arising from the project will contribute to enhanced health and liveability within the region.
Economic value
- The project involves ongoing vegetation management which is aimed at maintaining protected areas through a higher level of weed management.
- Interpretive signage along the foreshore explains the types of plants and animals that live along and use the foreshore as well as the cultural connection of the area for the Traditional Owners.
Environmental value
- Increased Tropic North Queensland’s destination appeal which will in turn drive up visitation and length of stay.
- Local employment will be created both during project construction and from ongoing operations. Additionally, the project may increase employment and educational opportunities particularly in sport and nature-based recreation. Sports including kite surfing, paddle boarding, cycling, running, swimming and triathlons directly benefit from the improvements.
- It is estimated that housing prices in the surrounding area will increase as a result of the project.
Social value
- Build social capital, resilience, empowerment and capacity of community members.
- Deliver opportunities for social connection/engagement.
- Creates a platform whereby the community of all ages, abilities and cultures can gather along the foreshore at the facilities provided for parties, events, social gatherings and recreation and leisure pursuits – much of which was not possible before the improvements were constructed.
Use value
- Provides a facility that can host community, cultural or special events. In particular, the Festival of the Knob. 3 triathlons are held each year (with a purpose-built triathlon transitioning area), kite surfing events (with a purpose-built kite surfing preparation area), running, cycling, swimming, general fitness (through fitness stations), playing (at the new playgrounds), and learning (through cultural interpretive signage).
- Provides opportunities/access to engage in healthy behaviours.
- Addresses a community concern, access along and to the foreshore for all abilities. Elderly people, parents with prams and strollers and people requiring the use of wheelchairs can all now access all improvements along the foreshore and will be able to access the beach.
- Engages at-risk or vulnerable groups by providing opportunities to engage in positive, healthy and safe recreation and leisure pursuits.
- Delivers an iconic route to showcase the scenic qualities of Yorkeys Knob Foreshore.
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