Engaging in place – at Johnsons Beach, Penguin
Johnsons Beach is a scenic location in the small town of Penguin, on the northern coast of Tasmania. After early consultation last year with the local community, Central Coast Council engaged Jensen PLUS to prepare a Master Plan for the area, with the aim to enhance the precinct while protecting the natural character and coastal identity, reflecting the notion “evolution, not revolution”.
These past few months we have been developing the draft Master Plan, building on 2025 feedback, and by engaging with local community groups.
We first worked through a vision for Johnsons Beach and key design principles to drive the Master Plan design. Then we prepared the draft Plan using a placemaking approach called the “Power of 10”. This is an activities-based approach that focuses on creating more reasons for people to visit, stay, and connect with the area. As a handy ‘’rule of thumb’’, it is said that a quality, useable place has at least 10 things to do there.
By identifying 10 new or enhanced activities at Johnsons Beach, and basing the investment in public realm and infrastructure around these activities, it enables the master plan to be prioritised and broken down or staged in a pragmatic way.
“For me, the draft strikes the right balance between protecting what people already value and planning carefully for the future” posts Daryl, Director Strategic Growth at Central Coast Council, in his LinkedIn page.
The Master Plan includes a replacement boat ramp as a major feature, as well as many improvements to public realm and recreation activities
Some of the activities proposed in the draft Master Plan include: a new, useable boat ramp and parking area, an accessible looped storytelling walk describing key local stories and historic events and people, better and more useable picnic and play spaces that can be used more times of the year, and enhanced lookout areas from The Nut and the surrounds.
Last month Central Coast Council has been talking to the local community and visitors to better understand the community’s level of support for the Plan and how to make it even better!
“With a Power of 10 approach we are able to show and explain the Master Plan more easily, and we find that communities understand plans broken down in this way. This recent round of consultation will identify whether we have captured the community needs and will help us prioritise the activities that are most important to them” says Nina.
We look forward to working with the community and stakeholders to refine and finalise the Plan in the coming weeks and continue to help shape the future of the Johnsons Beach precinct.
Read more about Johnsons Beach Master Plan at Central Coast Council’s webpage.
