Work is continuing along the riverbank at Kempsey's Riverside Park to help protect it from future floods and stop further erosion.
The Riverside Precinct Foreshore Stabilisation Project includes installing a sheet pile wall made of interlocking steel sheets and an anchor system that runs parallel to the riverbank. A concrete capping beam will sit on top, and parts of the wall will be buried in the bank.
The project also includes a new footpath, wharf, and seating areas along the foreshore.
Riverside Park is a well-loved community space, home to playgrounds, barbecues, picnic areas, jetties, boat ramps, and event spaces. Repeated flooding has made it harder for the community to use and enjoy safely and this project aims to protect important assets in the Riverside Precinct, make flood recovery easier, and improve access for everyone.
Although the project was delayed by major floods earlier in the year, work is now progressing well. The sheet pile wall has been installed from the Kempsey Bridge to the boat ramp. Work west of the boat ramp started on 22 September and should finish in December 2025.
Designs for the new footpath and wharf are complete, and construction is planned to start in December 2025, weather permitting. The finger wharf, which was destroyed in the May 2025 flood, will not be replaced as part of this project but Council is seeking funding to rebuild it in the future.
During construction, access to the boat ramp car park, wharves, and foreshore will be limited. The small boat ramp remains open and traffic control signs will guide visitors.
All work is expected to be finished by June 2026.
Once complete, the project will strengthen the riverbank, improve public facilities, and help build a safer, more resilient Riverside Park for the whole community.
For the latest updates on the project, visit ksc.pub/Riverbank-project
