Goolwa Beach, located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is renowned as a long, sandy stretch of coastline with views across Sir Richard Peninsula and Encounter Bay. Goolwa Beach sits within a wider coastal ecosystem that is connected to the Ramsar-listed Coorong National Park at the southern end of the Murray-Darling Basin and provides the only recreational vehicle access to the beach on this section of the Greater Adelaide coastline. It is the gateway to the mouth of the Murray River; and off-road enthusiasts travel from all over Australia to drive along Goolwa Beach to this iconic destination.
Goolwa Beach and surrounds are well known and highly utilised by locals and visitors alike, who value its cultural, environmental, social and economic significance to the region. The area provides a wide range of popular experiences for beach goers, families and visitors all year round.
The Project
The Goolwa Beach Car Park and Environs project aims to improve the function and amenity of the site’s public spaces to enhance user experiences, connect spaces and multiple user groups, balance the functional and aesthetic aspects of the site with respect for the local landscape character; and minimise adverse impacts on natural assets and cultural heritage values.
Ngarrindjeri Public Artwork
The Goolwa Beach location holds great cultural significance to the Traditional Owners, the Ngarrindjeri People.
The public artwork featured on the Goolwa Beach promenade reflect concepts of family, Country, knowledge and culture and the special connection Ngarrindjeri have to their Ngartjis and their totems. The artwork speaks of Ngarrindjeri culture and express the principles of 'moving forward together’.
A series of metal sculptural figures express the importance of Lakinyeri (family). The artwork is centred on an abstraction of a campsite. Concepts of congregation, custom, fire, shelter, and food are expressed in the symbols and arrangement of the artwork.
The piece invites a conversation about what family means and the significance of culture and custom for Ngarrindjeri.
The artwork concept was originally developed as part of collaborative work with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation as part of early designs for the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. This concept is now a public art sculpture located at nearby Goolwa Beach.
Pictured: Artist Cedric Varcoe
Information and Updates
Progress
The precinct is now open to the public with all infrastructure functioning and available for community use.
What's next?
Contractors have demobilised from site and will continue undertaking minor works and clean-up to achieve full completion including defect remediation. Design and approval processes are currently in progress to upgrade the stormwater system to eliminate water pooling alongside the promenade area. Council are also investigating designs to extend the access ramp to finish on the level sand gradient.
Announcements
Media Release - 22 September 2023 - Goolwa Beach Car Park Complete
Media Release - 24 May 2021 - Goolwa Beach funding announcement
Master Plan
Proposed works for the upcoming stage of the Master Plan include:
- improvements to the beachside promenade between the carpark and the foreshore dunes will include new, contemporary public infrastructure including seating, shelters, showers, public art and an elevated viewing deck.
- expanding the carpark by 40 spaces, and a further 25 on Beach Road, improve pedestrian and cycle access between the beach and Encounter Bikeway via a shared path with safe road crossing points, and improve access to the beach via the 4WD track, emergency vehicle access track at the south-west corner of the carpark, and a disability beach access ramp at the south-east corner.
- upgrading beach access with improvement to the dedicated 4WD vehicle access track to provide safe egress to and from the beach and Murray Mouth. The new access has been designed to reduce congestion at the entrance by including a slip lane, requiring vehicles entering the access track to give way to vehicles leaving the beach. This slip lane creates a safer environment for horses in forming a dedicated pathway to separate vehicle and horse movements.
- improvements to the south western precinct corner to allow shared access to the beach for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
- public art and signage acknowledging the history and unique natural environment and recognition of the importance of the area to the Ngarrindjeri traditional owners.
- installation of traffic management infrastructure to slow vehicles and manage movements in a safer configuration as well as a new pedestrian ‘drop off’ zone in close proximity to the beach and facilities.
The below image gallery provides an artists impression of the Goolwa Beach Master Plan.
Community Consultation
Following significant community and stakeholder consultation, the Master Plan was endorsed in 2017, aiming to guide the future development and sustainable management of the Goolwa Beach carpark and surrounding area. As well as the broader community and visitors, there are many specific user groups making use of this important part of the coastal environment.
The Master Plan balances the many social, cultural, environmental and economic considerations to ensure that Council plans for sustainable development and a safe and enjoyable experience for locals and visitors alike.