The Golden Beach Community Centre Reserve has long been valued by the community and visitors as it sits between and links key local destinations such as 90 Mile Beach, Foodworks, the RV Park and the Community Centre. Over time, the site has faced challenges including ageing facilities, changing community needs and seasonal demand. Feedback has highlighted its importance as a social hub, while noting the need for better access, amenities and resilience in the coastal environment.

Council has developed a draft master plan to guide future improvements. Shaped by community input, the plan aims to enhance functionality, inclusivity and long-term sustainability, strengthening the reserve as a central community hub.

The Engagement Summary Report outlines a broad community consultation in early 2026, including site visits, pop-up sessions and an online survey. Feedback highlighted the need for improved safety, better amenities (such as toilets, lighting and seating), and more opportunities for play, events and social connection.

Overall, the findings reflect a clear community vision for a more active, inclusive and well-connected precinct, and have helped shape the draft master plan.

Click here to read the Engagement Summary Report.

The proposal is to establish the area to the north of the Community Centre as a BBQ, picnic, and gathering space with a diverse range of seating opportunities. This allows space for people to sit while children play.

It enhances the connection to the car park and central lawn area that are currently hosting events and functions.

Together these two spaces can enable a diverse range of community activities and gatherings such as ANZAC Day services, community markets, as well as the potential for live music and food truck events and activations.

Feedback highlighted concerns about the current location near roads and parking, as well as outdated equipment and limited opportunities for older children and teenagers.

In response, the draft master plan proposes relocating the play space to a more central position within the reserve. This creates a safer, more accessible area that is better connected to seating, shade and gathering spaces.

Nature play was a key theme identified through community engagement - with strong support for informal, creative spaces that combine play, the natural environment and storytelling.

There is opportunity for Council to co-design the playspace together with GLaWAC, the Traditional Owners of the land, and provide interactive nature-based play that enhances the community and visitors knowledge and appreciation of cultural values and indigenous ways of knowing.

In partnership with GLaWAC, the plan will improve paths, signs and surfaces to help people move easily between the Community Centre, play space and Golden Beach Picnic Area. This responds to community feedback asking for better connections and safer access. Wayfinding will go beyond standard signs by including cultural stories, information and a consistent design to create a welcoming and easy-to-navigate space.

Existing public art will be interpreted and relocated to prominent, highly visible location - creating a landmark feature on the corner of the reserve.

Feedback highlighted the need for strong, coastal-suitable materials, more shade, and small areas of colour. People also wanted improved seating and shelter to better support everyday use and social interaction.

The master plan responds by creating a layered landscape, with new planting, wind protection and flexible spaces. These changes will make the reserve more comfortable and better suited to the coastal environment, while also improving its look and feel for both locals and visitors.

By combining practical upgrades with improved landscaping (such as sensory planting, feature elements and flexible lawn areas) the reserve will become a more vibrant and multi-use space. It will support events, recreation and relaxation, while strengthening its role as a central community space.

With planning already underway, the upgrade to the public toilet responds to the seasonality pressures that are experienced over the peak holiday periods.

While budget is yet to be approved, it is anticipated that the re-development of the public toilets will commence shortly after Easter 2027.

The plans are calling for an increase in the number of cubicles, taking it from the current five (5) cubicles to seven (7), improved layout, and including a dedicated storeroom for supplies and cleaning products.

Once construction is complete the area will be softened with landscaping.