Tweed Heads CBD Revitalisation

Project updatesProject contacts Map of project inclusions Photo gallery

Tweed Heads CBD to benefit from $1.9m investment

The NSW Gateway and Tweed Heads CBD is poised for a revitalisation, with a $1.9 million investment to enhance the Central Business District (CBD) with a focus on Wharf Street (Border to Boyds Bay Bridge), Bay Street, and some elements of Jack Evans Boat Harbour.

Project vision: The Border Beautiful Project delivers a ‘kick start’ to boost vibrancy and safety back into this cross-border regional city centre and CBD to attract and retain workers, residents, and visitors to the precinct.

Proudly funded by NSW Government

Thanks to a grant from the NSW Governments Regional Economic Development and Community Infrastructure Program, this economic project will boost community infrastructure, enhance community safety, and spread colour, vibrancy and culture. It will celebrate the NSW Gateway, activate the Tweed Heads CBD and encourage people to ‘explore more’ in a place visitors, residents and businesses can be proud of.

This project will be completed from end 2025-2028 including 4 packages of work: *NOTE: timeframes are a guide and subject to change without notice. 

Package 1: Streetscaping and infrastructure

Actions / deliverables Status / schedule
Thorough cleaning and treatment of Council owned road and footpath infrastructure. EARLY 2026
Replacement of existing aging, unsafe and inconsistent streetscape furniture and infrastructure including bollards, screens, seating and bins. Late 2026 – late 2027
Refresh of line marking and pedestrian crossings. COMPLETED – Dec 2025
Top up and boost of vegetation and garden beds. PLANTING SEASON – mid 2026

Package 2: Safety, signage, and wayfinding

Actions / deliverables Status / schedule
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Audit and Implementation Recommendations in partnership with NSW Police. COMPLETED – Nov 2025
A Lighting and CCTV Audit and Implementation Plan (Note: This project will deliver this plan, and the installation of most of the recommended additional safety lighting.) It is not in the project budget to install the fully costed and maintained CCTV program in the Tweed Heads CBD, this is considered a separate project seeking grant funding. By June 2026
A Wayfinding and Signage Audit and Implementation Plan and the installation of recommended signage, including opportunities to recognise our Aboriginal community and other cultural storytelling. Plan by June 2026. Installation 2026/27

Package 3: Placemaking and beautification

Actions / deliverables Status / schedule
Border marker lighting and projection upgrades. By April 2026
Beautification lighting at corner of Bay and Wharf Streets. By June 2026
Cultural signage and storytelling opportunities throughout precinct. Late 2026/27 pending engagement with the Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Street banners throughout precinct (Welcome to NSW and The Tweed ‘always on’ + seasonal signage). Late half of 2026
Wall murals (3-4) and decorative pavements (6-10). Late half of 2026
Beautification of Frances Street Roundabout. Late half of 2026

Package 4: Activation of the former Tweed Heads Visitor Information Centre building, EOI and commercial fit out

Actions / deliverables Status / schedule
Kick-start nighttime economy through re-purposing and site fit out incentives for the former border tourism visitor information centre. The project will call for expressions of interest to activate a currently vacant prime location space for a commercial enterprise with a focus on evening/night-time activation.  
$120k business fit out incentive included for successful tender. Council to retain the fit out.  
EOI/Tender for commercial lease (4 year + 4year option) opportunity and site fit out incentives for the former border Tourism Visitor Information Centre on the Corner of Wharf and Bay St. By June 2026
DA requirements and approval pathway to be mapped out and dependent on successful tender/proposal. October 2026 onwards.

View the project summary(PDF, 3MB)

Map of project inclusions

Disclaimer: Please note, this is not all works being completed as part of the project, only those with specific locations in the precinct area. Map locations and works are subject to change without notice and will be updated with any new elements as they are confirmed.

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Project updates

January / February 2026

An initial clean‑up of leaf litter along Wharf Street and Bay Street has now been completed. A Public Works Notification has also been issued to impacted local businesses and residents advising that footpath pressure washing will commence from Thursday 12 February for intermittent periods up to 3 months. Please see the Public Works Notification(PDF, 323KB) for more information. These works will refresh high‑use pedestrian areas and support continued improvements to the CBD’s appearance and amenity. 

Upgrades to the Border Marker are progressing, with installation of enhanced electrical circuits and new technical equipment now underway. These improvements will reinstate the feature’s lighting and projection elements, creating a brighter and more engaging entry experience at the border.  Next, we are moving onto the tree lighting improvements at the corner of Wharf and Bay Streets so stay tuned for that update.

Plans are progressing for a Precinct Landscape and Materials Palette to identify the landscape and street furniture improvements the project will delivery to areas of Wharf St (to Florence St roundabout) and Bay St.

December 2025

We have had a welcoming and positive start to the project with some good progress already as we officially kick the project off from October 2025.

  • Grant awarding, deeds and project plans completed with the Project Advisory Group established and progressing all project stages across various Asset Owners.
  • Stakeholder information sessions and engagement progressed with Councillors, Tweed Heads Business Chamber (committee briefing followed by Chamber presentation 14 October 2025), NSW Police, Twin Towns, Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Equal Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, a range of local businesses.
  • Launch of this project page to keep the community and businesses informed along the way.
  • Council and independent consultant John Maynard completed a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Audit and Implementation Plan. This was done in partnership with NSW Police and a range of precinct stakeholders and Council asset owners. This was completed in November 2025 and now informs our other precinct plans and priorities to consider.
  • All pedestrian crossings in the precinct area were repainted in December 2025.
  • Progress with some precinct clean-up improvements underway.  More to come in 2026.
  • Initial options for improved vegetation, trees and understorey have been considered and are progressing for a planting plan in 2026.

 

Contacts and further information

Ashley Tewes
Project Manager
Call 02 6670 2400

Vanessa Rose
Business Development Officer
Call 02 6670 2400

Email business@tweed.nsw.gov.au

Photo gallery