Published: 20 April 2021

The Batemans Bay foreshore was abuzz over the past two weekends with activities designed to bring more life to the town’s waterfront.

Busker-style music, a live canvas mural painting, and blues musicians playing on a boat cruising the water were some of the entertainment organised in partnership by Eurobodalla Council, Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber and River of Art Inc. More entertainment is set for this Saturday.

The Council also last week installed a larger-than-life photo frame on the Clyde Street waterfront, which is getting plenty of use from people snapping pics of the original Batemans Bay Bridge prior to its dismantling. Fabricated and installed by Council staff, the frame is designed to be temporary and can be transported and customised for different uses.

The most recent initiatives follow successful trials earlier this year that transformed Clyde Street car parks into a pop-up basketball court and skate rink, and new temporary pop-up dining pods, which Council installed based on feedback there were not enough places to sit and eat on the foreshore.

Eurobodalla Council’s economic development and place activation manager Teresa Lever said she was pleased to see so much happening at the Batemans Bay waterfront, which had, in the past, been under-utilised.

“The Clyde River waterfront is an incredible asset for the Bay - it’s beautifully presented but it is lacking a purpose,” Ms Lever said.

“What we’re trying to do with these trials is give people a reason to get down to the waterfront – either through turning it into an events space, or sports arena, and even simply trialling different types of seating to improve dining options.”

The initiatives were funded through the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program awarded to Eurobodalla Council to implement recommendations in Council’s Batemans Bay Waterfront Activation Strategy.

A further $465,000 of the funding will be used to improve linkages for pedestrians this year, street furniture, lighting, art, landscaping and more.

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