A largely closed section of the Freshwater headland could be transformed into public parkland, with plans lodged to remove the remaining surface carpark beside Harbord Diggers and replace it with walking paths, lookout areas, native planting and community spaces.
The McKillop Park proposal would convert part of the Crown land between Freshwater Beach and Curl Curl Beach into a landscaped recreation area under the long-running Freshwater Open Space Masterplan. Planning documents say the temporary lease arrangement has expired, allowing the area to be returned to parkland for public use. (Northern Beaches Council DA2026/1236)
Carpark gives way to parkland
The surface carpark once provided about 97 spaces for Harbord Diggers. It remained in use during the club redevelopment from 2016 to 2018 and was later used as a construction compound during works in 2018 and 2019. Most of the carpark has been closed since 2020, leaving 14 unrestricted public spaces.
Under the proposal, those remaining spaces would disappear and no replacement parking would be provided within the revitalised park. The applicant’s parking assessment says Harbord Diggers now accommodates its required parking in the basement of the redeveloped club and expects the park to be reached mainly on foot or as part of visits to the club and surrounding headland.
Paths link the headland
Landscape plans show a network of paths and smaller recreation areas replacing the hardstand. Proposed features include a nature walk linking Lumsdaine Drive with Harbord Diggers, mounded open spaces, communal areas, sandstone stairs and interpretation points.
A Whale Lookout, potential Mother and Child statue, Surfer Trail and Cabbage Tree Grove are also included. Sandstone paving and seating, flagstone paving, timber decking, turf and concrete paths would be used across different sections of the park.
Surf history shapes the plan
Freshwater’s surfing and commemorative history forms a substantial part of the design. Plans provide for improved access around the ANZAC memorial, changes to the Duke Kahanamoku memorial and a new memorial recognising Isabel Letham, whose place in Freshwater’s early surfing history is referenced throughout the landscape report.
The Duke Kahanamoku Statue and Memorial Park is identified in the DA as a local heritage item. Nearby heritage features considered during preparation of the application also include the coastal cliffs and Freshwater Rock Pool.
Coastal planting replaces asphalt
The landscaping scheme includes about 6,943 square metres of Sandstone Heath and 1,090 square metres of Feature Coastal Mix. Selected shrubs, dead vegetation and plants within construction footprints may be removed as the new paths and landscaping are installed.
An arboricultural assessment examined 37 trees across the site and found the design generally allows existing trees to remain. Dead vegetation and some trees affected by pathway construction may need removal, while the report recommends retaining as many trees as possible.
Removing the carpark would also cut the amount of hard surface within the project area. The water management report estimates impervious area would fall from about 2,990 square metres to about 1,841 square metres, with the reduction expected to improve stormwater runoff quality.
Accessible route through the park
The proposal includes an accessible pedestrian route from Evans Street and Lumsdaine Drive. Paths along the main accessible route would generally be at least 1.2 metres wide, with gradients of about 1:22 and 1:29 and space for wheelchair turning and passing. Stairs are proposed in steeper sections but would sit outside the principal wheelchair route. Access Report
No accessible parking spaces are proposed inside the park. The access report instead identifies parallel street parking on Lumsdaine Drive and accessible parking in a carpark at the south-east corner of the site.
Years of planning reach DA stage
Northern Beaches Council adopted the Freshwater Open Space Masterplan in May 2018 following community consultation. Planning for McKillop Park initially proceeded under a different approval pathway before Council advised that approach would require a formal public-private partnership, ministerial approval and a process that could take up to two years.
Mounties Group was subsequently advised in August 2025 to lodge a conventional development application. The current proposal remains under assessment and has not been approved. If consent is granted, the former Harbord Diggers surface carpark would be replaced by public recreation areas, new walking connections and expanded coastal planting.
Published 22-Sept-2026
