New boardwalk set to showcase Lake Mac’s iconic coastline

Published on 29 April 2022

Swansea Boardwalk - Render with Helmet.tif

Construction of a new boardwalk offering stunning views of Swansea Channel and Lake Macquarie will begin next week.

The boardwalk will span two creek crossings, to provide an important linkage from the lake’s western foreshore at Swansea to the shared pathway network alongside Swansea Gardens Lakeside Holiday Park.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said Swansea was one of Lake Macquarie’s most prized recreational areas, set to be even better with the construction of the 230m accessible boardwalk.

“Extending through a coastal wetland, this new infrastructure will allow tourists and locals to experience the natural beauty of the area, while taking in stunning views of the lake,” Cr Fraser said.

The Department of Planning and Environment’s Executive Director of Housing Supply & Infrastructure Monica Gibson said the NSW Government’s $250 million Public Space Legacy Program was the biggest injection of funding for public spaces in a generation. 

“This program is the first of its kind in NSW and demonstrates state and local government working together to create a legacy of beautiful public spaces that communities can enjoy for decades to come,” Ms Gibson said. 

“We’re supporting Councils to create fantastic outcomes for communities now and into the future, while also keeping people in jobs and the economy moving as we respond to the impacts of the pandemic.”

The boardwalk is part of a $3.5 million project to enhance the foreshore area at Swansea.

Completed in three stages, the project will involve vegetation management works, the installation of new exercise stations between Channel Street and Thomas Humphreys Reserve, and car park improvements.

As part of the project, Council also will develop new wayfinding and interpretive signage to help visitors navigate the pathways and learn about the area’s wildlife.

Construction is expected to be completed in late 2022, with the boardwalk to officially open to the community in early 2023.

The NSW Government has committed $3 million to the project through its Public Spaces Legacy Program.