Communities by the bay in Melbourne’s west can enjoy improved accessibility and a better visitor experience at Point Cook Coastal Park, with new and improved facilities open just in time for summer. 

The new and upgraded facilities include barbecues, picnic tables, shelters, drinking fountains, seating, signage, outdoor showers, and a new playground. Toilet upgrades are expected to be finished in the coming weeks. 

Pictured above: A new shelter, barbecues, picnic tables and drinking fountains have been built at Point Cook Coastal Park. 

The works have been funded by the Victorian Government’s $21 million Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program, which is delivering improvements at 21 parks across Melbourne, spanning from Point Cook to the Mornington Peninsula. 

Parks and reserves play an important role in boosting the health and wellbeing of local communities across Victoria. Over recent years we’ve seen a significant increase in visitation at many of Melbourne’s parks, highlighting how important it is to maintain the quality of these spaces.

The upgrades at Point Cook Coastal Park and beyond are delivering better facilities so that more people can connect with nature in an urban setting, whether for exercise, recreation or spending time with loved ones.

Pictured above: New spaces to connect with family and friends over a barbecue or picnic have been created, just in time for summer. 

Nearby, the program is also building a missing link in the Bay Trail at Point Cook, which will replace a current 3.8km detour with a 400 metre journey for walkers, runners and cyclists travelling from Williamstown to Point Cook Coastal Park.

The new section of trail is nearing the final stages of construction, and is expected to be finished by late 2023. 

Twenty other popular urban parks across Melbourne are also receiving a suite of upgrades through the program, while repairs to the historic seawall at Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park were completed in June, preserving the life of the seawall and promenade for years to come. 

Point Cook Coastal Park, located on Bunurong Country, is well-loved for its stunning coastal landscapes, diverse wildlife and peaceful surrounds. Visitors can get together with friends and family at one of its ideallic picnic spots, explore the beach at low tide or sit back and watch vintage aeroplanes operating from the Point Cook RAAF Base.

For more information about the project, visit the Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program web page. 

Pictured above: The beach at Point Cook Coastal Park on a sunny day.