CONSTRUCTION is officially under way for the Rye west campgrounds, the foreshore park and promenade, marking significant progress in the revitalisation of the Rye Township Plan. The development aims to enhance the town’s public spaces, improve amenities, and bolster its status as a premier destination on the peninsula.
The $3m works form the final piece in completing stage one of the township plan, which will include a carpark relocation, two plaza areas being built at either end of the foreshore promenade, as well as a network of paths, seating, barbeque facilities and landscaping. Another feature will be the extension of the Pauline Powell boardwalk towards the east, helping with sand mitigation and restoring an area of public space that had become unusable.
The Foreshore Park will replace the eastern pier carpark with increased public open space. The removed section of carpark will be relocated to the western side of the promenade, creating a continuous loop and easy to navigate space.
The shire said the foreshore promenade would provide a “sense of arrival as the main gateway to the foreshore”. “The Promenade links with the northern end of Napier St and creates a strong central axis to the pier. It includes a refurbished central walkway and opens to the newly created foreshore park public space to the east of the promenade and upgraded carparking area to the west of the promenade.” The shire is aiming to complete the project my the middle of December.
Nepean Ward Councillor Andrea Allen said the latest work was an exciting development for the community. “This is part of a broader and quite significant project including work already completed on the Napier St Plaza and currently underway at the Rye west campgrounds,” she said. “The upcoming redevelopments on the foreshore are long awaited and have had considerable community input throughout the long journey to this point.”
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said since the Rye Township Plan had been adopted in 2015, it had been “a decade of hard work, persistence and positivity from countless community members, that sees the Rye Township Plan rollout”. He also thanked the Rye Community Group Alliance, the former Rye Beach Business Association, the Bunurong Land Council, and government authorities for the foreshore revamp for their support.
A total budget of $6.5m has been allocated to the Rye Township Plan project with previous works completed including the Napier St Plaza in 2021. The state government has contributed $3.25m through its growing suburbs fund towards the Rye Township Plan, which was also matched by the shire.
The Rye Community Group Alliance’s chair Mechelle Cheers said the soon to begin work on the foreshore’s transformation was a huge win for the community “It will see this much used area now complement Rye’s stunning bay beaches and water vistas,” she said. “More importantly because of Rye Community Group Alliance advocacy, it will be a foreshore for people of all physical abilities. This will involve the extension of the accessible boardwalk/Pauline Powell Walk, paths and universally designed picnic furniture. “We are all so excited to see it happening.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 13 May 2025
