Two major infrastructure projects worth a combined $17.5 million are set to get the green light from the Waratah-Wynyard Council in its upcoming September meeting.
The projects include the long-awaited redevelopment of Boat Harbour Beach and the first steps towards a new childcare facility in Wynyard.
The Boat Harbour Beach Master Plan, first adopted in 2019 after extensive community consultation, will soon enter the construction phase.
The $12.5 million project will deliver a modern community facility featuring new club rooms and operational spaces for the Surf Life Saving Club, a café and upgraded public amenities.
It will also see improvements to roads, car parking and the foreshore, creating landscaped areas and play spaces.
Mayor Mary Duniam said the redevelopment is an important milestone for the region.
“This is one of our flagship projects for the year and it will transform this iconic part of our community,” she said.
“The new Surf Life Saving Club, café and enhanced public spaces will not only improve amenities for local residents and visitors but will also provide a place where community groups can continue to thrive.”
Construction is set to begin this summer and is hoped to be completed by mid-March 2026.
In Wynyard, the council will move forward and award a tender for design and permits for a new childcare facility.
The new centre will replace the existing Warawyn Childcare Centre and incorporate outside school hours care services at a single location on George/Gibbons Street.
It will initially accommodate 80 children, with room for future expansion to 120 places.
Mayor Duniam said access to quality childcare is crucial for working families and the new facility will help meet the growing demand in the community.
“It will also create new job opportunities, with at least six additional full-time positions to be filled,” she said.
“This project will not only benefit local families but will also support the wider economy by enabling parents to return to the workforce when they’re ready.”
The facility will be part of the Wynyard Education Precinct, located near Table Cape Primary School and Wynyard High School.
Design and permits are expected to be achieved in the 2024/25 financial year with construction expected to commence in late 2025.
