Celebrating the ‘iconic’ destination
"Celebrating the ‘iconic’ destination" is one of the three core design principles that has guided the development of concept designs as part of the City's Coastal Boardwalk Feasibility Study.
The proposed Scarborough-Trigg coastal boardwalk would give locals and tourists a new way of experiencing Perth’s iconic coastline.
The City recognises that the stretch of coastline it manages is much more than a recreational corridor – it is also a place of deep significance to the Wadjuk Nyoongar people and a beloved destination for the local community.
The design team sought to create a boardwalk that would not only connect Scarborough and Trigg beaches but also amplify the area's cultural identity through thoughtful, place-based design.
Bringing this principle to life involved extensive site analysis, stakeholder engagement and precedent studies.
The design was inspired by successful precedents such as the Maungawhau Tihi Boardwalk in New Zealand and the West End Boardwalk on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), both of which demonstrate how to sensitively integrate infrastructure into iconic natural settings.
The concept design includes a series of six primary nodes, each representing one of the six Nyoongar seasons and strategically located to capture world-class views over the Indian Ocean and Quindalup dunes.
The primary nodes include seating, water fountains and public art with custom-designed shade structures referencing the humpback whale to elevate the sense of place.
Landing nodes at each end of the boardwalk would welcome visitors and connection nodes would integrate with existing east-west tracks, maintaining current access and connectivity to the beach.
An independent economic impact assessment anticipates that a boardwalk between Scarborough and Trigg would have positive economic and community impacts, with the potential to create a popular tourist attraction.
This assessment estimates that for every dollar invested in the project, $3.30 will be returned to the local economy.
Over a 30-year period, the boardwalk is projected to generate $100 million in economic impact, including $93 million in visitor spend and $7 million in health and wellbeing benefits
To learn more and submit your feedback by 30 August, visit the Coastal Boardwalk Feasibility Study webpage.
