Funding finally secured for Moonee footbridge

CONSTRUCTION of a new Moonee Beach footbridge is set to begin in June 2027, following a long-awaited funding commitment from the NSW Government.

For years the footbridge provided access over Sugar Mill Creek, a Crown waterway, connecting Coffs Coast Regional Park and Green Bluff to Crown land managed by Reflections Holidays.

It served as a key link in the 60km Solitary Islands coastal walk but had become dilapidated over decades of use and was closed in November 2022 as a public safety risk.

An engineer’s assessment later confirmed the footbridge was unstable and repairs were not feasible, before it was removed in June 2025.

Construction funding for a replacement bridge will be provided by Crown Lands, part of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, with a development application due to be submitted to the City of Coffs Harbour Council in June this year.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said, “The NSW Government is proud to support the construction of a brand-new Moonee Beach footbridge to restore safe and reliable access for locals and visitors to the beaches, headlands and trails they love in this area.

“By backing this project we are supporting local tourism and the thousands of visitors who come to experience the Coffs Coast each year.”

A tender will be issued for construction works following completion of the DA process.

Construction of the footbridge will begin in June 2027, pending approvals and the procurement of a construction contractor.

The construction commitment follows the appointment of Coffs Harbour company BK. Engineering Consulting Solutions in December to design the new footbridge due to its expertise in bridge building and maintenance and experience servicing regional areas.

Crown Lands previously provided $350,000 for Stage 1 of the footbridge redevelopment project, which includes the bridge design and planning approvals.

An additional $100,000 for Stage 1 has been committed by the City of Coffs Harbour Council on behalf of the Coffs Coast Regional Park Trust, as well as $50,000 from Reflections Holidays.

Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams said the funding commitment was a “great and long-awaited result”.

“The absence of a pedestrian bridge to the headland has raised safety concerns and also been detrimental to our tourism offering as it was the missing link on our 60-kilometre Solitary Islands Coastal Walk,” Cr Williams said.

“Last year there was a fire on the headland and the absence of a footbridge created additional challenge for firefighters.”