Noosaville Foreshore
Overview
The Noosaville foreshore is a beloved recreational, riverside destination for residents within the Noosa region and also for visitors seeking a laid-back holiday experience.
The foreshore features a wide range of recreational and community infrastructure, including parkland facilities, picnic areas, barbecues, seating, lighting, and public amenities. Shared pathways support site wide walking and cycling, access to the beach and swimming areas, ferry stops, boat rentals and shopping. Other key facilities and open space elements such as toilets, boat ramps, tennis court, car parking, playgrounds, fitness equipment, showers, and lawn areas used for gatherings and leisure are located throughout the foreshore.
Precinct Summaries
The 2-kilometre foreshore consists of 8 key precincts or foreshore areas, which as mentioned above contain a range of infrastructure and facilities. The following is a summary of these precinct areas and key features located within, starting at the western foreshore moving east:
Chaplin Park Precinct
This precinct consists of a significant area of public open space, naturalised areas and vegetated creek drains running through to the river. The Noosa River Slipway and access drive is located in the centre of this precinct and adjoining the Noosa River. Outrigger boat storage is positioned to the east of the slipway. Flat, expansive seagrass lawn areas abound which are impacted by river inundation. The Noosa Waters canal extends to the eastern precinct interface with Humpty Do bridge spanning to the east.
Yacht and Rowing Club Precinct
This precinct consists of its primary association with existing yacht club activities, boat storage and restaurant. There are a number of mature feature fig trees, shared and riverside pathways, carparking and public amenities, with the Noosa Waters canal and Humpty Do bridge to the western extents.
Lions and Apex Parks Precinct
This precinct consists of a range of high use public recreational areas such as Pirate Playground, covered BBQ and picnic facilities, events stage, mature trees and palms, open lawn kickabout areas, shared and riverside pathways, and sloping lawn access to the beach and river.
Quota Park Precinct
This precinct consists of an internal park carpark, a range of open lawn area, mature tree and palms and garden areas, a range of boat hire and commercial businesses, the Noosa Boathouse and the iconic Big Pelican float along with shared and riverside pathways and furniture elements. There is a number of raised wombat crossings connecting Gympie Terrace south with the foreshore.
Boat Ramp and Ely Park Precinct
This precinct continues to service public boating needs with the Noosaville boat ramp. Adjoining to the west of this facility is the tennis court, OBoats Hire connected via a shared pathway. Street side parking, public amenities block, a public jetty along with a range of commercial businesses stretch further to the east. The foreshore tends to narrow in width heading eastwards and continues open beach access and shared pathway.
Pelican Beach Park Precinct
This precinct consists of a longer stretch of beach, lawn embankments, shared pathway, street parking mature trees and palms with a range of garden areas terminating with Terrace Marina boat hire to the eastern extents.
Gympie Terrace East Foreshore Precinct
This precinct consists of public amenities, a further narrowing of the foreshore extents, shared pathway, rock revetment edge to the river and a one-way section of Gympie Terrace and pedestrian pathway.
Thomas Street Precinct
This precinct consists of a local shopping and dining area with pedestrian footpaths either side, parking bays including centre parking and a regime of mature poinciana street trees.
Planning for the future
Much of the infrastructure and foreshore park elements is aging and in need of upgrades. Timber seawalls are worn, pathways are uneven and flood-prone, and stormwater systems are increasingly ineffective. In addition, erosion, tidal inundation, and climate impacts are affecting the shoreline and existing facilities.
As such, Council has developed a Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan to assist in managing the infrastructure and ensure a high level of service and comprehensive future vision aligned to the community needs. The Master Plan aims to address these issues, while preserving the foreshore’s character, ensuring accessibility, and enhancing resilience through thoughtful design and community-led improvements.