Beauty Point Foreshore

Master Plan Report

2018 - 2028
Executive summar y
The Beauty Point Foreshore, previously known as Sandy Beach, lies in the North
east of Tasmania, 45 kilometres north of Launceston. Situated on the edge of the
Tamar River estuary, the township of Beauty Point is home to a community of
approximately 1222 people. (2016 Census)

It is the country of the panninher and letteremairrener clans (awaiting TAC

confirmation) and in more recent history served as the first deep water port for
the area servicing the gold mine of the nearby town of Beaconsfield and then
as an apple growing/ exporting area. Today it nestles amongst grazing and wine
growing country with the river and port forming a major part of the activity as
well as being home to the second campus of the Australian Maritime College,
Australia’s National Institute for Maritime Education, Training and Research.

Anecdotally named after a cow called Beauty who died on the point where the
maritime college now sits the area supports a range of river activities such as
sailing, fishing and is home to Seahorse World and Platypus House with the
Inspection Head Wharf accommodating a growing number of cruise ships to the
area.

Community consultation revealed that any improvements to the foreshore should

enhance the natural beauty of the place offering greater opportunities to access
the foreshore with new picnic facilities and a new playground high on the agenda.

In developing up the master plan an important aspect to thread through was the
unique character of Beauty Point which, moving forward will be important to
capture through the use of indigenous planting strategies as well as local artists
and historians working with interpretation to capture the sense of place.
Implementation of the master plan is to position Beauty Point as a premier
foreshore destination within the region. Detailed design and construction will
be a staged approach over a 10-15 year period with a potential estimated overall
capital cost between 3-4 million dollars.
Priority will be given to providing a shared hard surface foreshore trail connecting
Inspection Head Wharf through to the end of the Beauty Point foreshore open
space (~1.2km) which will link up interpretation, sculpture and passive recreation
picnic nodes along the way. The path will connect to a new all inclusive and
unique coastal playground which will include upgrades to the adjacent pavilion,
a new public amenities building, improved car parking areas, BBQ facilities and
shelters. Other functional improvements include stabilisation of the coastal edge
and improved pedestrian access to the water at key locations along with general
beautification of the foreshore, to be implemented over time.
 The master plan
The master plan, how it could be...
Areas of interest
Inspection Head
1.
• Make feature of northern end of carpark with sculpture/ wayfinding map/
interpretation node to encourage people onto foreshore trail to village.
• Foreshore trail to become a board walk with viewing platform as a feature
element.
• Formalise coach pick up/ drop off location. Formalise coach parking
location. Ensure hardstand layout allows for cruise boat day with flexibility
to allow for 8 coach buses to lay by.
• Work through location for potential farmers market within Inspection
Head precinct.
• Remove old foundation to allow for additional formalised car parking.
• Investigate location for public amenities
• Install rock armouring as required to allow for a new 2m wide collection
footpath to edge of hardstand.
• Formalise boat parking.
• Narrow and rationalise intersections as shown while still allowing for
large vehicle movements.
• Remove portion of hardstand to allow for areas of landscape amenity
• Incorporate picnic and fitness node to location shown.
2. The point
• Remove old road and make good area with grass and coastal planting/
landscaping. Improve levels of landscape areas.
• New foreshore trail and pedestrian scale lighting.
• Create an avenue of trees and planting to provide buffering to road.
• New seating and picnic areas and interpretation nodes
• Formalised car parking.
3. The beach
• Make feature of connection/ access to beach.
• Create a safer parking area to beach by formalising parallel parking spaces.
• Develop foreshore planting strategy to improve landscape amenity with
new coastal tree and shrub planting, path network and pedestrian scale
lighting.
4. Main street
• Investigate streetscape strategy for beautification and amenity of
main street. This would include improved connectivity to foreshore with
upgraded foot paths, narrowing/ traffic calming of the road, street tree
planting, street furniture and defined parking areas.
5. The foreshore centre and connection to the village
• New foreshore trail and pedestrian scale lighting.
4 | the master plan
• Make feature of connection/ access to water.
• Provide steps up to the road. Create an amphitheatre to the existing
embankment.
• Remove existing ‘informal’ road edge parallel car parking due to safety
concerns. Install footpath with bollards at road edge to improve pedestrian
activation from foreshore to safe crossing location identified. This will
improve the connection from the foreshore to cafe which then connects
via existing footpath into main street/ village.
• Develop foreshore planting strategy to improve landscape amenity with
new coastal tree and shrub planting.
• New seating areas and BBQ shelters.
6. The community parkland
• New foreshore trail and pedestrian scale lighting.
• Make feature of connection/ access to water.
• A new foreshore nature based play ground (fenced) to incorporate existing
macrocarpa tree. Playground to be coastal themed and include water play
elements.
• A section of foreshore trail to be a board walk
• Improved landscape amenity with new coastal tree and shrub planting.
• New seating areas and BBQ shelters.
• Formalised car parking with section at 90 degrees to maximise spaces.
7. The pavilion
• Sections of roof made clear to enable natural light.
• Enclose some of the walls to create protection to prevailing winds and
improve connectivity to foreshore.
• Open some walls to enable better pedestrian entry.
• Connect a pedestrian jetty to foreshore for passive recreation opportunities
(fishing, kayak etc). Portion could be a floating pontoon.
8. North shore
• New foreshore trail.
• The only part of foreshore with a natural direct access from grass to
beach.
• Retain open space feel.
• Continue foreshore trail with nodes of interest.
• New seating and interpretation areas.
• Fitness nodes.
• Formalised car parking with larger vehicle parking (Bus and camper vans/
trailers).
• Develop foreshore planting strategy.
Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report
 Precinct 3
Wf S The community parkland

F
S
8. s a n d y
b
e
P
B S

a
c h
F

*
A In
B
7.
K e y f e a t u re s
A
A continuous high quality foreshore trail that connects a series of nodes and P
passive recreation activities
• Varies in width from 2.4-3m wide.
• The trail connects a series of nodes along the way that will also frame key 6.
views, and draw people to the foreshore. A Wf B S Sh

• Exposed aggregate concrete using a coastal pebble.

• Install satefy rails where required and 2 nodes of bike racks.
N
Precinct 2
• Stabilise the existing sea wall and natural foreshore edge with rock armouring at The Village hub
sections as shown in images (rounded boulders).

In Wf A series of nodes - interpretation, recreation and contemplation

A Wf B S Sh
• Interpretive nodes combined with way finding signage and with maps at key 5.
locations and features along the way. Signage form and branding to reflect place.
Interpret the cultural history and natural features that relate to Beauty Point.
B S Sh • Various BBQ (B) and seating/ picnic table locations along the way (S) including F
Wf
additional shelters (Sh). Some nodes with the opportunity to include sculpture or s a n d y
b e In
a
other activators. 4. P c
S
In
A In S
• Fitness nodes at key locations to encourage healthy lifestyle and activity.

h
F

3. P S
A Formalised locations to access the water edge 2.
• Create 5 defined access locations to the water with large concrete step
B In
elements.
• Integrate view platforms with handrail, signage/ interpretation and seating *
elements. Wf

• Stabilise the existing sea wall.

Precinct 1
A new and innovative coastal foreshore playground
Inspection Head wharf
• A unique nature based playground design to reflect place and history.
tourism precinct
N
• All access and inclusive.
• Catering for a variety of ages with a separate toddler playspace. Landscape amenity and beautification 1.
• Playspace safety fence to be sculptural and blend in with surroundings. • Retain existing coastal trees (Euc. spp, Blackwood, Allocasuarina spp.).

*
• Develop a foreshore planting strategy to enhance existing vegetation with
B 2 feature deck elements additional mass planting of native coastal vegetation along the length of
• A board walk to activate and draw the attention of the visitor traffic to Inspection the foreshore to aid in foreshore amenity and embankment stabilisation.
Head. Encourage birdlife and act as a visual linking element between nodes. Work In F
• A pedestrian jetty at the pavilion - for fishing, launching kayaks and pleasure. with NRM North and other revegetation groups.
Provides a focal destination viewed from ‘the point’. • Introduce an avenue and parkland tree where appropriate as a continuous
feature and to provide shade. Ensure views are not blocked. Consult with
Wf
Formalised car parking areas at key locations the community on final locations and species selection. Refer - Planting
N • Additional 90 degree parking (most efficient way to maximise numbers) at 3 key Palette 03.6.
locations. • Remove weeds and invasive species. 1:4000@A3
P • Formalise parallel parking areas.

Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report the master plan | 5

 The master plan

Inspection Head W harf tourism precinct

S

Investigate options to
stabilise coastal edge
where required in
conjunction with NRM
North

*
B In

Wf

Investigate lowering Inspection Head

the speed limit to 50
50km per hour from
inspection head wharf Coach pickup/ drop off.
On cruise boat day, entire
car park along foreshore
edge managed for tour
coaches passenger
collection

Building upgrade for

cruise boat providore/
N arrival check in

External access to
proposed public
amenities as part of
building upgrade -
closed after hours

New landscaping,
ensure all site lines are
retained (typical)

In F

Continue foreshore upgrades along existing

Wf trail to yacht clubs. These would include
places for seating, interpretation nodes and
landscape amenity. Improve drainage at key
locations.
1:2000@A3

6 | the master plan Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report

 The master plan

The village hub

Investigate options to treat finish of

concrete block seawall to improve
aesthetics, potential to clad in corten
steel, or grow ground covers over

Narrow intersection A Wf B S Sh

Gather and remove small

rocks within tidal margin

Steps up to road and

New landscaping,
amphitheatre
ensure all site lines are
retained (typical)
Stabilise seawall where Investigate options to
shown with rounded stabilise coastal edge
F boulders - see image where required in
conjunction with NRM
Narrow road corridor to North
create safe location to s a n d y
cross road b e Wf
a In In
c
P In A S S
Investigate option for foot

h
path to collect front of
properties

Retain lawn embankment P

as open space amenity on
arrival to the village

Existing path
1:2000@A3

Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report the master plan | 7

 The master plan

T h e c o m mu n i t y p a r k l a n d

Wf S

F
S
s a n d y
b
e
P
B S

a
c h
F
Bus parking

*
N
A In B

A
A new and
P innovative
coastal foreshore
playground
(all access and inclusive)

Stabilise seawall where

shown with rounded
boulders - see image

A Wf B S Sh

Gather and remove small

rocks within tidal margin

Retain access for triathlon

Community notice board

to wall of existing public
amenities

1:2000@A3

8 | the master plan Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report

 The master plan

T h e f o re s h o r e a e s t h e t i c
Open space A healthy river edge
•  Picnic / BBQ facilities •  Stormwater treatment and discharge points to river looked at as entire
•  Shelters wsud system/ approach
•  Passive open space •  Passive filtration
•  Natural coastal setting •  Investigation of algae in the river
•  Open landscaped areas, high canopy, low planting, wide paths •  Remove the stray rocks along the foreshore
with good visibility for safety
•  Encourage use of cross section of community by providing
comfortable spaces according to needs and abilities
•  Hardy suitable planting but beautifully selected to create
identity to foreshore
•  Suitable amount of amenity- public facilities, park furniture,
rubbish bins, drinking fountains lighting, etc

Figure 32: Parkland precedent images

Beauty Point Foreshore | Master Plan Report the master plan | 9