New carpark for Horsehoe Bay

Published on 21 August 2023

The beautiful Horseshoe Bay Headland will soon be safer and more accessible for locals and visitors, with construction underway on the reserve carpark. 

A designer was engaged earlier in the year to draw up plans for a revitalised Horseshoe Bay Reserve - extensive community and stakeholder engagement in 2018 and 2019 had identified the upgrade to the Headland carpark as a priority project.

Existing car park shown in bottom left insert - new car park in top right insert.

The existing carpark has a mixture of sealed and unsealed pavement, and a combination of formal and informal car parking spots. It is steep, has no kerb and guttering, and no ability to manage stormwater runoff. In addition, the poor design of the carpark leads to often chaotic traffic flow problems.

The new design increases the total amount of parking spaces from 46 formal and informal spaces to 52 formal spaces, including disabled access and parking. Sites in the north-eastern corner include a seating area and footpath which have been designed to comply with disabled access standards. 

North Eastern accessible seating area.

The carpark will receive an attractive landscaping treatment, with sandstone walls, seating, and a generous amount of coastal grasses and shrubbery planted to help protect and beautify the area.

Stormwater runoff will be managed more effectively to prevent rubbish, oils, and sediment from the carpark flowing directly into the ocean. The design uses drains, pits, kerb and gutters, raingardens and rocky swales to redirect and collect excess water from the area. 

The flow of the carpark has been redesigned to incorporate a turning circle, allowing cars towing boats and trailers to turn around, as well as service vehicles such as garbage trucks and emergency vehicles. 

Horsehoe Bay is one of the jewels in the Macleay Valley's crown and is hugely popular with visitors and locals alike. Kempsey Council is proud to show off this beautiful part of our shire with this safe, attractive and functional new parking area.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of September.