Park Beach is a suburb of Coffs Harbour, northern New South Wales, located in the north eastern part of the town. It has a population of around 5,000 which swells during summer as it is a coastal tourist destination containing many motels, backpackers and other forms of accommodation. The suburb of Park Beach is generally considered to be the area within the Ocean Parade and Orlando Street intersection at the south, the Orlando Street and Woolgoolga Road intersection, the turnoff from the Pacific Highway onto Macauleys Headland Drive, and the southern end of the Coffs Coast Regional Park.Park Beach Area NSWCommunities.org.au (2010). Retrieved on 4 July 2012.
Geography
Park Beach lies largely at sea level and is bordered on the eastern side by the Pacific Ocean. The beach itself (also named Park Beach) is a prominent part of the geography, and runs onto the elevated Diggers Headland and Coffs Coast Regional Park in the north. At the western side it is bordered by the suburb of North Coffs, while at the south lies North Wall, infamous for its strong rips which contributed to a 2009 drowning,"Call for warning signs at North Wall", The Coffs Coast Advocate (8 January 2009). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. and the Coffs Harbour Jetty.
Beach The beach itself is a patrolled scenic surf beach facing east onto the Pacific Ocean, with Diggers Headland and the Coffs Coast Regional Park at the northern end, and North Wall and Little Muttonbird Island at the southern end. The Coffs Harbour marina is clearly visible at the south. The beach is around 1.8 km longVisitors to Park Beach NSWCommunities.org (2011). Retrieved on 5 July 2012. and runs north to south. It is Coffs Harbour's main patrolled surf beachCoffs Harbour City Council – Beach Patrols CoffsHarbour.nsw.gov.au (17 February 2012). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. and was used by 55,548 people between April and September 2011.Coffs Harbour City Council – Park Beach Offers Best Option CoffsHarbour.nsw.gov.au (16 May 2012). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. As a result, it is now patrolled year-round.
Its surroundings consist of bushland and a caravan park, and a toilet, showers, a car park and a picnic area are all available.BeachWiki – Park Beach BeachWiki.org (28 April 2011). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. The Macauleys surf break is popular with both local and visiting surfers; other popular activities at the beach include sunbathing, swimming, kite surfing, diving, fishing, snorkelling, spear fishing and walking. The nearby Solitary Islands are also a popular destination for diving and boat tours, many of which depart from Park Beach.
Attractions Park Beach is home to the largest shopping centre between Newcastle and the Gold Coast, Park Beach Plaza.Park Beach Plaza ParkBeachPlaza.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. Other important places in the area include Park Beach Homebase,Park Beach Homebase ParkBeachHomebase.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. Northside Shopping Centre, the Park Beach Holiday Park,Park Beach Holiday Park CoffsCoastHolidayParks.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. Park Beach Bowling Club,Park Beach Bowling Club PBBC.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. York Street Playing Fields,York Street Playing Fields NorthernStorm.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. Pacific Towers,Pacific Towers PacificTowers.com.au (2009). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving ClubCoffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club CoffsHarbourSLSC.asn.au (2012). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. and the Hoey Moey.The Hoey Moey HoeyMoey.com.au (2012). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. The Coffs Harbour Food and Wine Festival was formerly held annually at the southern end of Park Beach (Park Beach Reserve), on the edge of Coffs Creek."Food and wine fest a sellout", The Coffs Coast Advocate (30 October 2006). Retrieved on 5 July 2012.
In October 2012, it was announced that Park Beach would be undergoing a $275,800 beautification program involving the construction of a viewing platform and equal access ramp from the beach carpark to public amenities and the main surf club entrance."Taking in the Park Beach views", The Coffs Coast Advocate (10 October 2012). Retrieved on 10 October 2012.
Demographics Many of the demographics of Park Beach fall outside those of the rest of Coffs Harbour and surrounding regions – "car ownership is less than half that of the rest of the mid north coast; the average household size is much smaller; household incomes are lower and the population tends to be more transient."Physical Environment – Streetscape NSWCommunities.org.au (2011). Retrieved on 4 July 2012. It also has a higher population of both indigenous and overseas-born residents than the surrounding areas, and a lower elderly population.Key Statistics – Coffs Harbour (North East) Profile.id.com.au (2006 Census Data). Retrieved on 5 July 2012. The population is steadily on the rise, with an increase of 357 or around 7% between 2001 and 2006, making it Coffs Harbour's second highest growth region behind West CoffsKey Statistics – Coffs Harbour (West) Profile.id.com.au (2006 Census Data). Retrieved on 5 July 2012. though the average persons per household has fallen slightly in that time frame suggesting an increase in new properties being built.
Crime Park Beach has earned a reputation as a hotspot for violence,"Park Beach 'not a safe place'", The Coffs Coast Advocate (28 September 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Bashed in daylight at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (23 October 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Coffs resident is 'living in fear'", The Coffs Coast Advocate (3 August 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Stabbing at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (15 November 2008). Retrieved on 2 July 2012."Man shot, gunman still at large", The Coffs Coast Advocate (16 June 2011). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. vandalism"Youths run riot in Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (10 August 2009). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Kids out of control at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (27 September 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Park Beach vandalism annoys locals", The Coffs Coast Advocate (6 January 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Vandals on the run", The Coffs Coast Advocate (30 November 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. and drug crime,"Alleged drug lab seized in Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (27 May 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Police swoop on drug labs at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (25 February 2009). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Deadly drugs hit streets", The Coffs Coast Advocate (28 May 2010). Retrieved on 1 July 2012."Firearm and drugs found in raid", The Coffs Coast Advocate (2 February 2012). Retrieved 2 July 2012. particularly in Boultwood Street, Prince Street and Vincent Street, and the area has been flagged as a 'red zone' (high density hotspot) by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research for domestic violence related assault, break and enter, graffiti, malicious damage to property and theft-related offences.NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research – Coffs Harbour LGA BOCSAR.nsw.gov.au (2011). Retrieved on 1 July 2012.NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research – Coffs Harbour LGA BOCSAR.nsw.gov.au (2011). Retrieved on 1 July 2012. This is largely due to the low socioeconomic standard of the neighbourhood, as it is part of the poorest electorate in AustraliaNew England Australia – New England's Federal Electorates – Cowper NewEnglandAustralia.blogspot.com (18 October 2007). Retrieved on 2 July 2012. and it contains a large amount of public housing. However, efforts are being made to clean up the area and improve its image and residents' safety"Police curb crime at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (17 September 2011). Retrieved 1 July 2012."Push to clean up Park Beach image", The Coffs Coast Advocate (16 September 2010). Retrieved 1 July 2012."Call to action at Park Beach", The Coffs Coast Advocate (23 October 2010). Retrieved 1 July 2012."Park Beach crackdown imminent", The Coffs Coast Advocate (6 October 2010). Retrieved 1 July 2012. including the formation of the Park Beach Community Group"Park Beach community unites", The Coffs Coast Advocate (27 November 2010). Retrieved 2 July 2012.Park Beach Community Group NSWCommunities.org.au (2010). Retrieved 2 July 2012. and a $200,000 injection of council funds in 2010."Park Beach to get a $200k facelift", The Coffs Coast Advocate (29 September 2010). Retrieved 1 July 2012.
Sport
The suburb is home to the Park Beach Bowling Club (current district fours champions),"Park Beach wrap up district crown", The Coffs Coast Advocate (31 March 2011). Retrieved 1 July 2012. the PBBC Colts cricket team (finalists of the 2010 Coffs Coast Twenty20 Cup"Colts kick out for honours tonight", The Coffs Coast Advocate (17 February 2010). Retrieved 1 July 2012. and winners of the 2011 minor"Colts are the real deal", The Coffs Coast Advocate (22 March 2011). Retrieved 1 July 2012. and major"Record is in safe hands", The Coffs Coast Advocate (16 April 2011). Retrieved 1 July 2012. premierships) and North Coast Football's Northern Storm Football Club, whose junior teams play their home games at the York Street sporting fields. Even the area's sporting teams have been hit by crime"Bowls club terrorised by robbers" The Coffs Coast Advocate (26 September 2007). Retrieved 1 July 2012."Thief gets the spoils", The Coffs Coast Advocate (22 July 2006). Retrieved 1 July 2012. but continue to call the area home.
References
External links Coffs Harbour City Council Live surf cam of Park Beach Park Beach Community Group Park Beach Bowling Club Park Beach Plaza Park Beach Homebase Park Beach Holiday Park