Penguins and the Power of 10

Nina and Michael visited Penguin, Tasmania last month to help launch the next phase of the Johnsons Beach Master Plan.

Johnsons Beach is a small spot, just a short walk from the centre of the township, and boasting a collection of recreational uses around a rocky headland. It’s well loved and some of its infrastructure is old and in need of a revamp, with new opportunities to plan for activities to appeal to today’s residents and visitors.

The Master Plan will build on the first stage of community consultation which was undertaken late last year by Central Coast Council and captured local insights, ideas and priorities for the precinct.

We spent time on site speaking directly with local stakeholders, community groups and technical specialists to better understand how the area is used and where improvements can be made. We also held a short outdoor workshop – right on the beach – using the ‘’Power of 10’’ placemaking approach to identify the right activities and experiences that can add up to a vibrant place. (It’s also a great way to communicate and plan with groups of people).

“While visiting the site, we discovered there are important historical and cultural connections with the locality and its people. It is a loved place but has areas that can be enhanced for better use.” said Nina afterwards.

The Master Plan will explore how the Johnsons Beach area can evolve to:

• Improve accessibility and safety for everyone
• Support recreation, boating/fishing and community and visitor use
• Enhance the natural environment and coastal experience and develop opportunities for education
• Strengthen connections to the town centre and Coastal Pathway.