Streets Beach Brisbane 2023
Channel: Sean Anderson
Date: 29/08/2023

The late 1970s saw this section of Brisbane south of the Brisbane river is a heavily degraded state. Rather than sell it off to developers, the city opted to engage in a government-directed redevelopment of the so-called "South Bank" project. A major feature within the open spaces of South Bank is its artificial beach, containing 2,000 square meters of free-formed concrete surrounded by 4,000 cubic meters of imported white sand sourced from the Rous Channel in Moreton Bay. Roughly annual augmentation with an additional 70 tonnes keeps up the appearance of a natural system. Approximately half of the lagoon area spans reclaimed land that was once the Brisbane River Channel.  This area last experience a devastating riparian flood in 2022. 

Beach initial construction began in February 1991 and was complete by June 1992. The lagoon holds chlorinated fresh water that is fully recirculated every six hours. Dredge pumps and self-propelled sifting machines filter water in the adjoining pools. The beach region comprises a lagoon surrounded by sand beaches, palm trees, rocky creeks and subtropical vegetation.

The beach has received numerous awards including the 1999 Moreton Bay region's cleanest beach in the Keep Australia Beautiful Council's Clean Beach Challenge and the 2001 Environmental Protection Agency's Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge, Friendliest Beach Award. 

The beach is named after the sponsor Streets Ice Cream, and was formerly known as Kodak Beach.