Riverway Lagoons Safety Upgrade
| Investment | $1.4 million |
|---|---|
| Jobs | 10 |
| Goal | 4. A sustainable destination that embraces and participates in the arts, sports and events and recreational activities. |
| Strategic Purpose | Following an audit by Surf Life Saving Queensland, Council delivered on recommendations to improve public safety at the Riverway Lagoons. |
| Status | Complete |
The safety of our community is paramount and in line with Surf Life Saving Queensland recommendations, Council undertook important upgrades to the Riverway Lagoons to ensure the community can enjoy this popular facility with the best safety measures in place.
The works involved the installation of safety fencing surrounding each lagoon and purpose-built lifeguard towers at key vantage points around the lagoons.
The works were conducted in stages and required partial closure of the lagoons during the works. These works are now complete.
- Lower lagoon
- Fencing works commenced Monday 9 October 2023.
- Fencing works concluded on Friday 8 December 2023.
- Upper lagoon
- Works commenced on Monday 29 January 2024.
- The upper lagoon fencing and installation of lifeguard towers to both the upper and lower lagoons was completed in November 2024.
Project Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the project scope?
The safety upgrade works involved:
- installing fencing surrounding each lagoon
- installing purpose-built lifeguard towers at key vantage points around the lagoons.
Why was the project needed?
The safety upgrades address recommendations by Surf Life Saving Queensland and aimed to enhance the safety of all lagoon users by:
- segregating the swimming areas from the remainder of the precinct, to prevent children from wandering into the lagoon
- providing enhanced visibility through purpose-built lifeguard towers installed at key vantage points around the lagoons, enabling lifesavers to have a better view of the area.
What was the project timeframe?
- Stage 1: Lower lagoon
- Fencing works commenced Monday 9 October 2023.
- Fencing works concluded on Friday 8 December 2023.
- Stage 2: Upper lagoon
- Works commenced on Monday 29 January 2024.
- The upper lagoon fencing and installation of lifeguard towers to both the upper and lower lagoons was completed in November 2024.
How was I impacted?
The works were conducted in stages and required partial closure of the lagoons during the works, with change rooms and toilets remaining open as usual during the works.
The lower lagoon has now reopened.
Works on the upper lagoon will commence on Monday 29 January. The upper lagoon will remain operational through most of the works with construction areas isolated using localised temporary fencing.
Closure of the upper lagoon will be required for short periods where works require the pool to be drained. The community will be notified prior to closure of the upper lagoon.
How does community benefit from these works?
The works aimed to provide enhanced safety for lagoon users and all visitors to the Riverway precinct, as swimming areas are now safely fenced off from the remainder of the precinct, preventing children from wandering into the lagoon, and lifeguards are now able to monitor the swimming areas from optimal vantage points.
The design of the new fencing aligns aesthetically with the rest of the Riverway Precinct and new signage has been designed and installed as part of the project. This signage provides the community with precinct information, depth markers and safety messaging, behavioural expectations, plus QR codes for lifeguard information.
Digital signage was installed near the upper lagoon with rolling safety messaging and precinct information.
How much did it cost?
Council invested $1.4 million into this important safety project.
