Warm weather and a large crowd were on hand to mark the opening of Stage One of the Jack Evans Boat Harbour in Tweed Heads at the weekend.
The event, which attracted councillors and local members, past and present, as well as a multigenerational crowd, also signalled the start of Local Government Week.
Local Government Week features everything from a Behind the Scenes tour of Tweed Laboratory and guided tour of the Tweed River Art Gallery, to the opening of the Tweed Valley Lawn Cemetery Chapel at Eviron on July 29. The historic chapel was relocated from St Joseph’s Primary School at Tweed Heads as part of the school’s recent upgrade.
Like the chapel, the Jack Evans Boat Harbour has been given a whole new purpose for a new generation. Tweed Shire Councillor, Mayor Kevin Skinner, said the Jack Evans Boat Harbour revitalisation project had created a vibrant recreational and tourism centrepiece for Tweed Heads, which acts as a fitting gateway to the Tweed and New South Wales.
“The parklands now feature
extensive boardwalks, modern park furniture and landscaping, with plenty of green space for picnics and passive recreation. Energy-efficient lighting around the harbour provides a spectacular night-time display, improves pedestrian safety and discourages vandalism,” Councillor Skinner said.
“One of the highlights of the new facilities is a structured and enlarged swimming area on the northern side of the harbour, which provides a safe area for swimming and recreation, and features an “all abilities” access ramp to the water and rock pools at all tidal levels.”
The redevelopment has been planned and worked towards over the past 24 years and has also included the rejuvenation of the harbour’s other beaches, harbour revetment and improved filtration of stormwater entering the harbour.
It also includes the first stage of the Goorimahbah – Place of Stories Aboriginal botanic and artwork gardens.
A new toilet and shower block is due to be built soon.
Federal member for Richmond Justine Elliot conducted the official opening of the first stage of the Boat Harbour foreshore redevelopment at Tweed Heads.
The Federal Labor Government contributed $1.8 million towards the redevelopment of the foreshore through the Jobs Fund Local Jobs stream. The project created job opportunities for many local tradespeople and construction workers involved in the foreshore rejuvenation of the public beach and adjoining parklands.
Stage Two of the redevelopment, currently unfunded, includes the proposed “Goorimahbah – Place of Stories” cultural gardens and event space featuring additional artwork story walls, other sculptural artworks and the development of an Indigenous Botanic Collection.
A cafe/kiosk is also planned as well as the creation of a new entrance promenade landscape from
Boundary Street.
