Over time, Redcliffe has evolved from a sleepy seaside residential area and destination for holidaymakers to a growing centre of activity and the park has changed to reflect this. Many generations within our communities hold dear memories created at Suttons Beach. Nestled on the Redcliffe foreshore, Suttons Beach Park is loved by locals and visitors alike. The park extends between Redcliffe Peninsula Surf Life Saving Club and the end of Macdonnell Road (see map of location).

Centrally located in Suttons Beach Park was the Suttons Beach Pavilion. Building investigations confirmed the pavilion had reached the end of its life and that it did not comply with modern building standards. Renovation of the pavilion was impractical given the significant remediation and rectification works required to meet building compliance and return it to an acceptable level of serviceability. While it is not feasible to save the existing Suttons Beach Pavilion, Council is committed to ensuring the future of the site honours its treasured past.

Council invited architects to put their best ideas forward for a new mixed-use facility at Suttons Beach. The brief included a new building with potential for hospitality spaces, public amenities for beach goers and rooftop public space. Council also invited landscape architects to participate to integrate the new building into the broader Suttons Beach Park area.

Council engaged CityLab as the Professional Advisor for the competition. CityLab planned and oversaw all aspects of the competition.

The design competition involved two stages:

• Stage 1 - Expression of Interest
• Stage 2 - Concept Design Development.

Council consulted with the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) to ensure the competition process conformed with the AIA Architectural Competitions Policy and reflected industry best practice.

You can read more about the design competition on CityLab's website.

On 15 March 2023, Council considered the Strategic Assessment and Options Analysis Report (SAOA) and resolved that the Chief Executive Officer prepare a detailed business case for option 5 (double storey) and provide a report to Council in mid to late 2023. You can read the minutes from the General Meeting online.

Option 5 of the SAOA is a building that includes:

• public amenities including a Changing Places facility
• retail or hospitality space on the ground floor that provides food and beverage such as coffee, a meal or ice-cream
• a ‘roof top‘ public space on the second storey from which visitors can enjoy the magnificent ocean views.

Providing a Changing Places facility at Suttons Beach would complement the beach access ramp and matting already in place that allow people with disabilities and other mobility challenges to enjoy the beach. Changing Places are a type of adult change facility that enable people with high support needs and their carers to access public toilets in a dignified, hygienic and safe way. They differ from standard accessible toilets as they are larger and equipped with a range of specialised equipment, such as a height-adjustable change table, ceiling hoist, peninsular toilet and in this location, a shower.

The detailed business case is currently underway and when complete it, along with community consultation findings, will inform the design brief for the new building.

In parallel with technical investigations of the buildings' integrity, Council asked an external consultant, CPMA, to provide an analysis of appropriate options for the future of the site. This analysis looked at many factors associated with future investment including the economic, environmental and social impacts.

The Strategic Assessment and Options Analysis Report (SAOA) is available to the community.

The below infographic explains the process.

The SAOA included building sketches that were used to obtain indicative costings for the purposes of the analysis only. The sketches respond to the community’s desires for food and beverage provision at the site and maintenance of green open space. The sketches have been made available for the community to view for discussion purposes and should not be considered representations of the design for any future building.

Expert technical reports commissioned by Council and completed between May 2020 and December 2020 indicated partial or full demolition of the buildings was a possibility/inevitability.

In May 2022, Council commissioned independent experts Covey Associates Pty Ltd to undertake a comprehensive investigation of the Suttons Beach Pavilion. This investigation was sought to confirm the significance of the deterioration of the buildings.

On 1 March 2023, the findings of the investigation were presented at Council’s General Meeting. That same day the Suttons Beach Pavilion - Structural Investigation Report and its appendices were made available to the community.

The report determined that extensive remediation and rectification work would be required to re-establish any form of serviceability. These works:

• require extensive removal of the building’s structural elements to facilitate the access necessary to complete the repairs
• require complex and potentially costly work methods which would materially impact on the limited remaining elements of the “original” building
• would not guarantee any extended durability and residual life of the building.

The uses of the Suttons Beach foreshore site and the structures that have stood on it have changed dramatically over time. The original Suttons Beach Pavilion, a bathing pavilion and kiosk for beach goers, was built in 1937 and has been altered significantly since it was built. The newer pavilion (a function centre) was constructed 20 years ago in 2002 when the site underwent its most recent redevelopment. This newer pavilion was not built by Council but was sold to Council by a previous owner in 2006. Today, two pavilion buildings, a rotunda built in 1998, concrete pathways and grassed areas occupy the site. The pavilion buildings are now vacant.