$1.5 million for Bellara foreshore upgrade

A $1.5 million upgrade of the Bellara foreshore is one of the key projects to be delivered as part of the State Government’s SEQ Community Stimulus Program (SEQCSP).

Plans have not been finalised, and there is public consultation to come, but there are some exciting additions on the wish list.

Moreton Daily met State Member for Pumicestone Ali King and Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Brooke Savige (Div 1) onsite to find out what the upgrade might involve.

The project scope includes planning, design and construction of new park facilities at Sylvan Beach Esplanade.

Facilities along degraded and underutilised sections of the esplanade will be upgraded including play, picnic, open space, civic amenities and the existing boardwalk.

The project includes a dedicated space for pop-up activations such as food trucks and musicians. While this section of the foreshore is already being used for this purpose, improved facilities and lighting will support more local small business activations at this location.

Cr Savige says the core purpose is to freshen up the Bellara foreshore.

“Our foreshore is a beautiful space, a beautiful natural space, but it’s just a little tired. It needs a bit of love,” she says.

“It’s had so much use over the years, so we’re looking to spruce it up a bit and bring it in line with some of our other foreshore areas in terms of lighting, footpaths and make it really accessible for everyone.

“We’ll get the project scoped up with some proper plans and then we’ll be able to come out to the community, get their feedback on what they like, what they don’t like, what’s missing and see just how much we can fit into that project.”

Funding infrastructure creates jobs

State Member for Pumicestone Ali King says the community stimulus program has allowed councils to identify shovel-ready projects suitable for State Government funding.

“The community stimulus package funding is all about partnering with councils to invest in communities and build and grow the infrastructure that we all enjoy but also about creating jobs right here on the ground,” Ms King says.

“This project is going to create up to 15 jobs and that’s awesome for our local community. It’s got flow-on economic benefits for the local community, for small businesses. So, I think it’s the kind of thing we need.

“This is one of the biggest single investments in the community stimulus package funding that we’ve seen in this area so it’s a really big positive announcement.

“Activating this side of the foreshore is a really fantastic thing for the community to be looking forward to.”

Cr Savige says improved lighting will make it easier for locals and visitors to use the foreshore area, and for food trucks and entertainers to create a “really positive community atmosphere” into the evening.

Public consultation will begin soon and work is expected to be finished by 2023/24.

“I suspect we’ll be hitting the ground with pre-construction next year,” Cr Savige says.

Find more local news here