Case Studies
Rockingham Beach Foreshore

Design Feature

Type of project
Masterplan
State
Western Australia
Location
Urban
The unique setting of Rockingham Beach Foreshore has been attracting people for many generations. The City of Rockingham is pursuing an agenda of making the Rockingham Beach Foreshore precinct a destination of choice for residents and visitors alike. The current project has provided a high-quality upgrade to the public open space at the Foreshore, delivering an active and vibrant pedestrian priority zone. The initial Master Plan was developed in 2015, the detailed design completed in 2017, and construction completed in September 2019. 
Place-based design
The Detailed Design commenced with an extensive community consultation and stakeholder engagement process. Throughout August and September 2016 consultation occurred with community members, local residents, local businesses, City of Rockingham staff, Councillors and the Reconciliation Action Committee. Through this engagement process, valuable feedback was provided which identified the character of the site; key user groups; significant issues and infrastructure requirements. The consultation informed a place-based design to activate the foreshore. 
Construction occurred from July 2018 – September 2019. A heavy emphasis was placed on communication and on maintaining access through peak months. This resulted in communication across a range of media, production of infographics, and complete demobilisation from site during the peak usage months of summer.
The following Healthy Active by Design principles have been delivered by the project:

1. Creation and upgrade of pedestrian oriented and active **public open space**.
2. Improving the Foreshore as a **destination**, generating activity over a much wider time period and improving linkages between the beach, parks and retail outlets.
3. Improving **movement networks** by removing bottlenecks, prioritising pedestrians, improving bicycle facilities, installing an outdoors mobility scooter charging point, and making the entire precinct functionally accessible.
4. Design driven by the community’s **sense of place**. It is now a place for all people, celebrates pre-existing heritage in prominent locations, and recognizes the heritage of the Nyoongar people, the traditional owners of the Rockingham area. Extensive tree planting, including transplanting mature trees, provides shade and moderates urban heat island effects.

Project team
  • The City of Rockingham
  • Design consultant team led by PLACE Laboratory
  • Construction team led by Ertech Pty Ltd

Project cost
$15.75 Million
Health value
The Rockingham Beach Foreshore Revitalisation offers:
  • Physical health through extensive bike parking, improved pedestrian connections, improved beach facilities, a bike repair stand, and a beach slide
  • Mental health through increased tree and other planting, and a variety of different activation spaces supported by electrical, lighting and street furniture provision
  • Emotional health via increased greenery, increased activation, and cultural events,
  • Spiritual health through recognition of local Aboriginal and European heritage.

Economic value
Economic analysis of the Rockingham Beach Foreshore Revitalisation Stage One indicated that it was expected to:
  • Result in increased visitation to the foreshore, from the local, regional and statewide communities
  • Support an additional 808 annual full-time equivalent jobs over the next 30 years
  • Increase local property values
  • Result in acceleration of private development.


At time of writing (2020) it is too early to fully assess the economic impact. Indications from foreshore businesses prior to Covid-19 was that business had improved roughly 20% compared to pre-construction turnover.
Environmental value
Environmental values have been addressed with:
  • Extensive use of FSC certified recycled timber.
  • Significant additional natural shading along with air quality improvement from the increased tree planting and over 800 square meters of garden beds.
  • Retention of existing significant trees
  • Implementation of a biofiltration swale
  • Extensive use of FSC certified recycled timber.
  • Significant additional natural shading along with air quality improvement from the increased tree planting and over 800 square meters of garden beds.
  • Retention of existing significant trees
  • Implementation of a biofiltration swale

Social value
Community safety is improved through a combination of:
  • Extensive use of FSC certified recycled timber.
  • Significant additional natural shading along with air quality improvement from the increased tree planting and over 800 square meters of garden beds.
  • Retention of existing significant trees
  • Implementation of a biofiltration swale
  • Extensive use of FSC certified recycled timber.
  • Significant additional natural shading along with air quality improvement from the increased tree planting and over 800 square meters of garden beds.
  • Retention of existing significant trees
  • Implementation of a biofiltration swale

Social connection opportunities are significantly increased through the strong emphasis on functional accessibility; matched with significantly increased activation resources.
Use value
A variety of spaces has been created within the precinct. Each space is well provisioned with electrical outlets for activation. The spaces are attracting different demographics, and still encouraging mixing of age groups and abilities. It is expected that the local, regional and state cultural, sporting and general communities will begin engaging with these spaces for their own events over time, as with the Rockingham Beach Cup and the Long Table Lunch.

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