Consistent with contemporary playground design the playspace will not be fully fenced. The playspace design has been reviewed by Play DMC, an independent playground inspector.  

A 1200mm (1.2m) high post and wire fence will run along the Tasman Terrace side of the playspace with raised garden beds acting as a barrier on the beach side. 

The water play area is not designed as a splash park.  The water play area is inspired by Eyre Peninsula coastal fish traps.  The water play feature includes a rock weir, and steppers, along with water spray and push button connected to mains water.  

South Australian contractor Elton Landscapes has been appointed to build the exciting new Nature, Adventure and Junior playspace.

Tenders were invited from companies which were shortlisted through the Request for Expression of Interest process for the supply, delivery, and construction of a new Nature, Adventure and Junior playspace with integrated nature play elements on the Port Lincoln Foreshore.  

The short-listed responses were evaluated against the following criteria:

• Price
• Industry Participation Policy (a SA Government funding requirement that measures local and SA employment and content)
• Methodology
• Timeframe

On completion of the evaluation process, Elton Landscapes was identified as demonstrating best overall score and as result the recommended preferred provider.  

The contract for the early works demolition package, to remove the dais, was awarded to local company, Kym Clarke Construction partnering with Carl's Excavation following a competitive open RFT (Request for Tender) process.

Elton Landscapes has already made arrangements with local subcontractors - Origin Paving and Landscaping, Chris Cash Plumbing and Gas Fitting and Diggin It Earthworks.

Martin Elton Director has also stated:

"We will be contacting a lot more local companies we have already worked with and others in the near future where we have not already.  That said always open if anyone from entry level employee, through to trade or possible subby wants to reach out looking for opportunities.  For work on this project or in Adelaide.  Martin@eltonlandscapes.com.au or 0433 771 654."

The State Government's Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program is contributing $3.640 million towards the Port Lincoln Foreshore Project, 50% of the funding, with the balance from Council.

Using a hired turf cutter, the Elton Landscapes team have cut the turf to be reused at the Port Lincoln Special School and Cummins Areas School.

The pavers have been carefully removed and stacked onto pallets and are being stored at the depot.  The pavers are planned to be reused in a footpath project in Washington Street.

All things going well the playspace will be finished by December 2022.

• Plans are culmination of extensive public consultation (3 years)
• Foreshore Project is unrelated to the Hallett Place/Cinema project
• Council Rates do not need to increase to fund the project
• ‘Yacht Club’ lawns will not be redeveloped
• The existing jetty will be repaired
• Community feedback shows majority support for the project
• We cannot choose to spend the grant funding on something else
• The stormwater outfall at the Yacht Club is being addressed
• The jetty upgrade is supported by tour vessel operators and SATC

The Foreshore Redevelopment project is expected to create benefits for Port Lincoln in the areas of tourism, recreation, community connection and event attraction.

The project will deliver:

• increased amenity and a significantly improved shared public space
• destination adventure and nature play spaces
• a flexible plaza/market shared space ideal for hosting community events
• toilets and change spaces adjacent to the play space and jetty
• inclusion of a passenger pick-up and drop-off zone
• activation of the jetty supporting nautical tourism
• multiple event and staging options
• enhanced sport and activity space on the foreshore
• disability access to the beach
• embraced Indigenous heritage of the area incorporating stories of our first peoples, and
• business opportunities for a ‘pop up’ space on the jetty.

Decisions about the parking arrangement on the foreshore are not being made in isolation. Importantly, several preceding studies and investigations adopted by Council form the basis for the recommended changes.

Precincts Master Plan

The 2018 co-design workshops and 2019 engagement with the community highlighted a strong desire for the area near the town jetty to be upgraded and 'activated'. As the natural energy centre of our town, this is the prime location on our foreshore - the ideal place to showcase our identity and culture. Elements of play, public art, history and high quality open space can be brought together to create an iconic regional destination for locals and tourists alike.

CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan

Council's recently adopted CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan highlights several points relevant to our Foreshore Redevelopment Project:

• the car park is not the destination
• improved accessibility and attractiveness will drive long term CBD business growth
• car parking is only one element of accessibility

Along with requests for more parking spaces, feedback on the action plan also highlighted strong community need for more pick up and drop off spaces, short term parking and wheelchair accessible spaces in prominent locations.

Foreshore Redevelopment Project

The Foreshore Redevelopment Project aims to make Port Lincoln’s popular foreshore more accessible for all. Currently people with a disability or mobility issues, families with young children and tour operators struggle to safely access the foreshore. As space in this area is at a premium, any improvements in access for these minority groups will result in a reduction in the number of car spaces. Council has been working hard to minimise this impact.

Under the latest concept plans, Council is proposing reconfiguring the car park to introduce a parallel parking lane. This lane will result in the loss of only six parking spaces, but will deliver key benefits:

• a pick-up/drop-off zone and/or short-term parking
• access for buses (eg. for tour groups)
• safer access for rear access taxis
• improved access for service vehicles
• increased size of community plaza area
• more pedestrian circulation space and tree planting
• improved separation of vehicles from play spaces.

Council understands community concern about the loss of car parking spaces and has revised the planned car park reconfiguration to reduce the loss of parking spaces from 23 to 6.

Council has also in March this year created 7 extra car parks in Washington Street to offset any car park loss along the foreshore, and is investigating a further 7 also in Washington Street. Council will continue to work hard to increase access to parking in our CBD and other parts of the foreshore in line with the actions outlined in the recently adopted CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan. The intention of Council is that the short term actions from this plan (including opening up extra parking spaces) will be delivered prior to the Foreshore Redevelopment Project being completed.

The total Foreshore Redevelopment Project cost is $7.6M, including $350,000 for jetty renewal. This cost has been revised down from an initial precinct plan with an estimated cost of $18m. The project was awarded 50% matching funding of $3.62m in March 2021 through the SA Government’s Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Programme. The total expected cost to Council to deliver the project is $3.62M + $350,000 allocated towards jetty renewal.

Council has been consulting with and listening to the Port Lincoln community since 2018 when work began to create the concept for the Foreshore Redevelopment.

Over this time, surveys and community consultation periods have shown majority support for the project. The jetty upgrade is supported by tour vessel operators and the SA Tourism Commission. Council has actively responded to community concerns with elements of the project, such as the loss of car parking spaces, by working with its contractor to revise the concept designs in response to public feedback. Further, it’s significantly cut the cost of the project from $18m to now $7.24m.