Gold Coast City Council officially open the $3.4m boardwalk at Tallebudgera
A controversial $3.4 million project which transformed one of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches has officially opened and it is already attracting hundreds of people.
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A controversial $3.4 million project which transformed one of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches has officially opened and it is already attracting hundreds of people.
Last year, the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) began “vital” works along Tallebudgera Creek to renew the training wall and park, and upgrade the boardwalk.
Division 13 councillor Josh Martin opened the new Tallebudgera boardwalk at Tallebudgera Creek Park, welcoming hundreds of residents and visitors back to the famous beach on Thursday.
The new 4m wide deck and boardwalk will be connected with the city’s Oceanway path.
Mr Martin said the upgrade was needed to ensure the “thousands of residents and visitors” who use the path can enjoy Tallebudgera Creek Park and the Oceanway “safely”.
“The old boardwalk had reached the end of its life so we had to do works to ensure the boardwalk is fit for purpose for the next decade,” he said.
Residents have been divided over the controversial project and said they hoped council addressed the parking situation.
However, Mr Martin said the upgrade was “important” to cater for active travel.
“I’ve lived in Palm Beach all my life and we certainly don’t want to paving our green spaces with car parks,” he said.
“Using the active travel ensures you aren’t stuck on the highway and don’t need to worry about finding a carpark”.
Palm Beach resident Hayley Williamson and her daughter Neve visited the new boardwalk on Thursday and said it “looked great”.
Ms Williamson said she was a member of the nearby Gold Coast Recreation Gym and Neve played sport in the same building once a week.
“We normally ride our bikes here but since it’s been closed we’ve had to drive which is hard because parking is almost impossible,” she said.
Ms Williamson said the Tallebudgera Creek boardwalk was in need of an upgrade.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
“The improvement works help highlight the natural precinct used by thousands of Gold Coast residents and visitors each year and connects Tallebudgera Creek Park to the Oceanway,” a GCCC spokesperson said.
Tallebudgera Creek coffee shop, Neptune Kiosk owner Ursula Watts said it had been a “slow” 12 months but they were “incredibly excited” for the boardwalk opening.
“Tallebudgera Creek was overdue for new infrastructure to make the creek and all natural amenities of the area more accessible to everyone,” she said.
“So it’s fabulous to see it coming to completion.”
Ms Watts said while the area was riddled with construction, there was still a “buzz” around.
“There is still walkers, running groups, tourists and young families enjoying the area.”
Ms Watts said the new boardwalk was “looking fabulous”.
“The new park for kids incorporates nicely with the creek which is now fully connected by the Oceanway,” she said.
“It couldn’t come soon enough.”
Ms Watts said the opening was the “perfect timing” for the Gold Coast long weekend.
“To celebrate we will be serving up everyone’s favourite hot doughnuts for free until they sell out,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic milestone for everyone involved and we’re excited to see visitors and locals back enjoying the area that we all know and love.”
The upgrade now includes a four metres-wide deck with a viewing platform overlooking the creek.
There will be new seating, lighting, landscaping, turf and tree planting.
The GCCC spokesperson said in addition to the boardwalk upgrade they widened the Oceanway to four metres from Tallebudgera training wall to Tallebudgera Creek park.
In April, Gold Coast residents were divided over the upgrade and said the area looked like a “whole lot of concrete” after the Bulletin shared a video of bulldozers moving in on the area.
“All for tourism as per usual,” Louise Ruth commented on the Facebook post.
“When will they consider what Queenslanders want.”
Another resident said the GCCC should have put the money towards more parking rather than the walkway.
Resident Phillip Evans said he had lived in the area for 25 years.
“It was absolutely beautiful and this will destroy it. So sad,” he said.
Others likened the upgrade to the Spit transformation in Main Beach.
“Stop trying to clean up the natural habitat and leave it alone,” Karen Brown said.
“The Spit has been manicured beyond recognition.”
While, resident Jo Needham said the Oceanway project was an “awesome initiative”.
“I’m looking forward to being able to catch the tram one way down the Coast and use active transport back, using one dedicated path,” he said.
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