FAQ

The Kingscliff Foreshore Revitalisation is a three-stage project being undertaken by Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust to protect and enhance facilities along the Kingscliff CBD coastline. ·  Stage 1 will construct a permanent sea wall to protect the Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club, Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park and Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club from erosion caused by storm events and projected sea level rises ·  Stage 2 will replaced aged infrastructure and refurbish and modernise the facilities and services at Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park, including a new range of cabin accommodation. ·  Stage 3 will create a Kingscliff Central Park, a community hub linking the Kingscliff CBD with the beach by providing oceans views from Marine Park and establishing paths for improved beach access.

The Federal Government announced in December 2015 it would provide $9.81 million towards the project through Round 2 of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF). Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust will contribute $7.52 million to the redevelopment, while Council will provide $3.87 million, for a total investment of $21.2 million in Kingscliff.

The seawall will protect Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club, Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park, Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club, public infrastructure and some private property from further erosion caused by storm events and forecast sea level rises.

The Kingscliff foreshore has been impacted by severe erosion on a number of occasions in recent years, including erosion events that have significantly threatened these facilities and have required emergency foreshore reinforcement.

Tweed Coast and Kingscliff foreshore hazard plans, including projected erosion levels for the next 50 and 100 years, indicate existing facilities, public infrastructure and some private property on the Kingscliff foreshore are under considerable threat unless measures such as a sea wall are put in place to protect them. Therefore, the holiday park upgrade and a new Kingscliff Central Park will not be viable options unless the sea wall is established first.

Much of the built infrastructure and facilities at Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park are approximately 40 years old and has reached the end of their economic life. This infrastructure must be replaced for the holiday park to remain operational and viable.

The necessary infrastructure replacement is a good time to modernise the holiday park to meet contemporary requirements for these facilities. This includes changing the mix of accommodation options, with a greater emphasis for on-site cabins and larger van sites. Contemporary visitor demands and preferences for accommodation are generally much different compared to the past.

Market knowledge and experiences shows this will achieve more consistent visitor numbers throughout the year and improve the viability of the holiday park.

Existing Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park residents have been informed of the essential infrastructure replacement and park upgrade for a number of years.

The holiday park will be reduced in area by approximately one-third.

The land vacated by this consolidation of the holiday park will be used to create a new Kingscliff Central Park linking the Kingscliff central business district and the beach. The central park is in response to community feedback that indicates Kingscliff residents want open space that links the Kingscliff CBD with the beach.

There will be reduction in the Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park's footprint to create space for:

The refurbishment and upgrade of Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park could not proceed until a more permanent sea wall was constructed along the Kingscliff foreshore. Coast management plans for Kingscliff and the Tweed Coast, mapping forecast erosion along the Tweed coastline during the next 50 and 100 years, shows protection such as a sea wall is needed to protect existing and future facilities on the Kingscliff foreshore from storm event erosion and sea level rises. Considerable government funding was needed for the construction of the sea wall. Last December, the Federal Government announced it would provide $9.81 million for the project through Round 2 of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF).

The Kingscliff Foreshore Revitalisation is a two-year project expected to start in early 2017 and is scheduled for completion in 2019. Much of the planning and approvals for early stages of the project are completed, in anticipation of securing funding. However, the timing of start of Stage 1 is dependent on securing the final approvals for the construction of the sea wall. The wall’s construction will need to be completed before subsequent stages begin. However, the estimated timing of other key milestones include: ·  Closure of Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park – 30 January 2017 ·  Completion of the sea wall – March 2017 Start construction of Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park upgrade, Kingscliff Central Park – May 2017

Long-term casual sites will be discontinued at Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park to allow the redevelopment to proceed. They will not be replaced when the upgraded park reopens. This is in line with the management objectives of holiday parks on Crown Land throughout NSW, to make this public land accessible for everyone. Long-term casual sites provide exclusive right of occupation to the site holder, denying access to everyone else. The holiday park upgrade has been planned for a number of years, pending the construction of associated coastline protection and available funding, and long-term casual site holders have been notified throughout this period that their agreements would not be renewed after the holiday park is refurbished. A number of these clients have enjoyed the benefits of their sites for many years but Crown Land policy and public equity demands this valuable central foreshore land be made available to everyone. Existing long-term casuals will still be able to book a site at the refurbished holiday park but will no longer have exclusive long-term possession of sites. Making the sites available to everyone will also help ensure the sites are occupied more regularly throughout the year, improving the viability of the holiday park and generating more consistent patronage for Kingscliff businesses.

The refurbishment will include changes to the configuration of the park and its accommodation options, to encourage more consistent patronage throughout the year. This will be achieved by providing more modern facilities and accommodation options, such as on-site cabins - that meet the contemporary demands of people visiting the area, and by removing long-term casuals so all the sites are available to all visitors. More consistent visitor numbers at the park should bring more patronage for local businesses during periods when visitor numbers are typically lower, outside the usual peak holiday times. Profits from the Tweed Coast Holiday Parks are used for foreshore protection and restoration works, with more than $1 million allocated to projects right along the Tweed coastline each year. Optimising the viability and profitability of Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park, and the other Tweed Coast Holiday Parks, maximises the amount of funds available for foreshore projects, to improve dune and beach health and benefit everyone who uses Tweed beaches, while reducing the burden on ratepayers.

Artificial grass has proven to be a better option in hard wearing areas in other Tweed Coast Holiday Parks. For areas such as tent and van sites, it is preferable to natural grass because:

Natural grass can be significantly damaged – and often dies – after extended periods of tent camping

Artificial grass is much more cost effective because it;

·  doesn't need watering, mowing, edge trimming or weed spraying

·  avoids having to replace natural grass that is damaged or killed by prolonged use

·  avoids loss of income because a site is unavailable for use while new turf is established

·  artificial grass is convenient for campers because it can minimise the amount of sand that gets into tents

Holiday park management receives requests from clients who want to be put on sites with artificial grass.

Kingscliff Central Park will cover an area of approximately 10,000m2 and is proposed to include: ·  a boardwalk along beach frontage ·  a stepped concrete wall down to beach ·  landscaping including low grass mounding with picnic shelters and barbeques ·  toilets and showers ·  retaining the cenotaph in its current position ·  a new promenade connecting Marine Parade to the beach ·  an upgrade of the existing community hall ·  a new playground ·  connections to the coast cycleway

Kingscliff Central Park will be a jewel in the town’s foreshore parklands, bringing many of Kingscliff’s attractions together – its beautiful beach, Marine Parade businesses and the popular coastal cycleway.

Kingscliff Central Park’s facilities and its location, immediately between the central business district and the beach, will make the new park a social and cultural hub for the town.

Its layout and features, including the refurbished community hall, will be designed to host community concerts and other events.

Kingscliff Central Park’s location will also provide spectacular views of the beach and ocean from Marine Parade businesses, while creating a better visual and physical connection between the CBD and the beach.

It’s been five years since Council engaged with the community to create the design a Central Park for the Kingscliff CBD foreshore. Council will go back to the community in mid-2016 to revisit the existing park design, to see whether community needs and expectations have changed since 2011.

Information stalls and other activities are planned to make it easy for members of the community to find out more and provide feedback. Check yoursaytweed.com.au/KingscliffForeshore for updates and announcements. Input can be sent to Council by email to kingscliff_foreshore@tweed.nsw.gov.au or in writing to: General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484