As part of the Church Point Precinct Masterplan, we're upgrading Thomas Stephens Reserve to create a safer, more attractive public space.

This well-loved area between Pasadena and The Waterfront Café will be revitalised to improve pedestrian safety and enhance the space around the shops.

The final landscape design shaped by extensive community consultation and expert input, retains key features such as the herb garden and most trees, while introducing a new boardwalk, wharf-style seating, upgraded paving, planting, and improved amenities like bins, bike racks and a water station.

In response to feedback, the plan keeps the sandstone planter, adds permeable paving and tree surrounds, and repositions the bike rail for better access.

Despite every effort to preserve trees, an independent arborist has advised that one near the seawall could not survive due to unavoidable root damage during essential stormwater works. This trees will be replaced with advanced specimens suited to the location.

We exhibited the proposed upgrades to Church Point Commercial Centre in April and May 2021 and received feedback from 123 people, with strong community support.

Since that time we reviewed and incorporated the feedback from our community, key stakeholder groups and internal business stakeholders into the design works for Thomas Stephens Reserve. We worked closely with key stakeholders to finalise the design, which was presented to the community in March 2024.

We made a number of changes to both the landscape design for Thomas Stephens Reserve and the proposed road realignment works. Some suggested changes have been accommodated while others are not supported due to cost, conflicting community design desires or internal feedback from our various asset owners and maintenance operations within Council.

Our intention was to find the right balance between the wishes of community members and users whilst creating improved amenity and well-managed assets with a quality outcome for the budget available.

Works are being delivered in stages to minimise disruption.

Marine works started mid September 2025 and are now complete. Upgrades include a new boardwalk, ferry pontoon extension, and seawall repairs and additions. Works also included temporary asphalt. The reserve will be opened for Christmas.

Landscaping works will begin in early 2026 and will include permeable paving and improved public seating and bike facilities. Completing the landscaping will finalise the Masterplan. The work is anticipated to be complete by mid 2026.