Construction on the next stage of the Brighton Foreshore Parklands project is set to begin in April, bringing new accessible paths, picnic areas, a beach access ramp and a new amenities block to two of the foreshore’s most visited recreation spots.
Works at the 12th and 19th Avenue recreation areas along Flinders Parade will run through to December 2026, weather and site conditions permitting. The project is funded through the Priority Community Infrastructure Program and has been shaped by more than three years of community consultation.
What the Upgrade Delivers
The 12th and 19th Avenue works cover a substantial scope. New accessible paths will improve movement through and access to the foreshore, while a beach access ramp gives residents a dedicated route down to the water’s edge. Shaded picnic areas and BBQs replace older or absent facilities, and new seating, bike racks and drinking fountains round out the practical improvements.
At 19th Avenue specifically, a new amenities block including an accessible toilet will be constructed, addressing a gap that has long been felt along this stretch of the foreshore. Tree planting, landscaping and interpretive information signs will also form part of both sites, reinforcing the natural and historical character of the parklands rather than working against it.
Earlier works completed in January 2026 delivered three new picnic settings and trial landscape treatments designed to inform how erosion is managed along the foreshore going forward.
A Foreshore with Deep Community Roots
The Brighton foreshore sits within the broader Bramble Bay Foreshores, a continuous strip of publicly accessible parkland stretching more than seven kilometres from Cabbage Tree Creek through Shorncliffe, Sandgate and Brighton to the Houghton Highway. The foreshores carry significant heritage value, with features including the porphyry sea walls, Sandgate Pier and Baxter’s Jetty tracing the area’s evolution from a premier nineteenth century seaside resort to the bayside community it is today.
Brighton itself developed as part of that coastal corridor, taking its name from the Brighton Hotel on Beaconsfield Terrace, believed to have been built in the early colonial era. The suburb sits at the northern end of Brisbane, bounded by the Pine River and Bramble Bay, with Flinders Parade, formerly known as Brighton Esplanade, forming the spine of the foreshore precinct. Walking, cycling and gathering along that esplanade has been central to how the community uses the area for generations.
The concept plan guiding the current upgrade project was developed across multiple rounds of community engagement, beginning in February 2023 when residents were invited to share ideas for improvements. A draft concept plan followed in late 2023, with the final plan released in December 2024. The process was designed to ensure the upgrade reflected what residents actually wanted: improved amenities without sacrificing the relaxed, natural character that makes the foreshore what it is.
A Better Everyday Experience Along the Foreshore
For Brighton and Sandgate residents, the foreshore is not a destination so much as an extension of daily life. Families, dog walkers, cyclists and swimmers use Flinders Parade and the surrounding parklands throughout the week, and the ageing infrastructure in parts of the foreshore has been a friction point for some time.
The accessibility improvements in particular extend the foreshore’s usefulness to residents who currently find sections difficult to navigate, whether that is due to mobility constraints, the absence of a direct beach access point, or simply a lack of shade and seating on warm days. The new amenities block at 19th Avenue addresses one of the most consistently raised issues in community feedback about this stretch of the parklands.
Getting Involved and Staying Informed
Construction at the 12th and 19th Avenue recreation areas starts this month and runs until December 2026. Residents wanting to follow the project’s progress or ask questions about construction timing and access can contact the project team on 07 3178 5413, Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Email enquiries can be directed to parks@brisbane.qld.gov.au. The final concept plan and project documents are available here.
Published 02-April-2026
Featured Image Credit: BCC
