Moffat Beach Place Plan - Shaping the future of Moffat Beach’s public spaces

In collaboration with our community, Council is developing a shared vision and guiding plan for the public spaces of Moffat Beach, helping to shape the future of this much-loved local place.

Between 19 March and 16 April 2025, we invited the community to participate in phase 1 of community engagement to inform the vision and values of the Moffat Beach Place Plan. Through Have your Say online surveys, a community workshop and two pop-up in the park sessions, we gathered valuable insights into what matters most to locals.

We received 161 survey responses, welcomed 41 participants at our community workshop and saw strong attendance at two pop-up sessions.

Survey highlights

What best describes your usage of Moffat Beach?
How do you usually get to Moffat Beach?
How do you rate Moffat Beach out of five stars?

In the survey, 1 star represented a place with significant room for improvement, while 5 stars represented a place considered ideal and requiring no changes.

How does the community describe Moffat Beach today?
Your top 10 words:

Of these top 10 words, the following sentiments were expressed:

Community place priorities

Respondents were asked to identify their top priorities for the future of Moffat Beach by selecting up to five attributes from a list of 25 and ranking them from highest to lowest priority. The five most commonly valued attributes across the community were:

Moffat Beach 2040: Your vision and values

We asked you to describe Moffat Beach in 2040, once the Place Plan has been implemented. This has helped develop a draft vision and values for Moffat Beach:

Moffat Beach keeps its relaxed beachside village atmosphere and charm. The public realm is respectful, holding onto its uniqueness, with open spaces, ocean views and surrounding beach shacks left to shine.

The streets are easy and inviting to walk, with slow-moving traffic and safe paths that connect to coastal walkways and nearby parks.

Local businesses thrive, cafes and eateries are bustling, offering welcoming and diverse social experiences.

Moffat Beach is a place for everyone. Families, friends, and pets gather in shaded parks and open spaces, feeling welcome, safe, and part of the community.

It’s easy to walk, ride a bike, or move around, with calm traffic, safe paths and parking in the right places - all helping to protect the peaceful, slow-paced feel of the area where locals talk in the street.

Beach culture and surfing continue to bring different generations together and this can be heard through laughter and conversation. Public spaces are flexible and informal, supporting recreation and community gatherings. Shaded areas, seating and open lawns are well cared for and welcome everything from quiet moments to picnics and events.

Public spaces support shared enjoyment and connection across generations. The strong community spirit is felt through laughter, conversation and a welcoming atmosphere.

Nature and recreation go hand in hand at Moffat Beach. Shaded walking paths, rest spots, and seating invite people to relax, stay active, connect, and enjoy the sea breeze and coastal views.

Coastal pathways offer moments of interrupted and expansive views of the coast and of the headland, surf break, and rocky shoreline - encouraging walking, running, cycling, reflection, and connection with nature.

Moffat Beach’s green spaces and are shaded by mature trees, with open grassed spaces to allow play, informal sports and picnicking alongside peaceful places to unwind.

Public access to the beach, parks, and natural spaces is easy and welcoming, encouraging swimming, surfing, and active engagement with the coast.

Tooway Creek, the beach, surf break and headland are protected and celebrated for their ecological and scenic value supporting biodiversity and coastal resilience. Improved water quality supports safe swimming, healthy marine life and a thriving coastal ecosystem, with native plants and animals thriving thanks to community care and conservation.

The area is more resilient, streetscapes and parks contribute to stepping stone habitats within Moffat Beach, with native species tree planting and canopy cover supporting flood mitigation and wildlife corridors.

Making Moffat Beach’s public spaces even better

We heard the following areas can be improved on:

  • Traffic and parking concerns

    • Slowing traffic for safety, reducing congestion through one-way street design
    • Slow street treatments to improve safety and walkability
    • Rationalising parking across the suburb to reduce congestion

  • Accessibility and inclusivity

    • Improving signage and wayfinding
    • Upgrading footpaths and crossings
    • Improving lighting and path surfaces to support safer access

  • Environmental protections and sustainability

    • Working to improve water quality in the creek and bay
    • Working with native species and to support natural ecosystems

  • Preserve character but allow thoughtful change

    • Public realm improvements that holding onto its uniqueness distinct sense of place
    • Gentle improvements that develop with the local character in mind, not over it