Pimpama – Dixon Reserve upgrade Yawalpah Road

Project typeParks
Project schedulePlanning and design: 2023-2025 | Construction: 2026-2027

Dixon Reserve is a significant natural area in the northern Gold Coast, but it is currently underutilised. While some people walk their dogs at the southern end and students from Gainsborough State School occasionally use the area for school projects, the reserve currently lacks formal access and recreational facilities.

Rapid urban growth around Pimpama over the past 15 years has also affected the environment — leading to poor water quality, erosion, and invasive plant species.

The upgrade will:

restore the wetlands and native bushland
improve access and paths through the site including a foot bridge connection
create new areas for play, exercise, and learning
support local biodiversity
strengthen the community’s connection to nature.

The goal is to transform the space from a passive reserve into a vibrant, accessible place for both people and wildlife.

Dixon Reserve is approximately 15 hectares in size and is located in Pimpama, directly next to Gainsborough State School on Yawalpah Road.

The reserve is also bordered by:

Gawthern Drive to the West
Matasha Crescent to the East
Chrome Drive to the South.

It’s easily accessible by foot, bike, or car and is close to local schools, homes and community hubs.

Engagement process

The engagement process is an important part of the Dixon Reserve revitalisation project. It will ensure that the design choices are reflective of the surrounding community, generating a sense of ownership and connection to place.

The timeline of the engagement process is depicted below.

August 2023

Early site visit

October 2023

Round 1 engagement

February 2024

Concept design development

April 2024

Round 2 engagement

July 2024

Final design concept

December 2024

Round 3 engagement

Phase 2 of the engagement process sought to build on the valuable input from the previous phase and further define the vision and design of Dixon Reserve. Key deliverables for this phase of engagement included:

Gainsborough State School teaching staff workshop
Gainsborough State School student workshop.

Project values

A local nature reserve designed to appeal

A landscape that promotes learning through nature
Opportunities to learn through the senses
Unique, challenging but friendly bike trails
Network of recreational paths connecting the wider neighbourhood

Reconnect the broken riverine wetland systems

Establish best practice blue-green systems
Physically and conceptually, connect people to water
Encourage local biodiversity through habitat creation
Creating resilient landscapes
Encourage local materials that are ecologically friendly

An urban landscape of stories

Encourage the community to reconcile the relationship with the natural environment
Foster stakeholder and community relationships and create a sense of stewardship to
the reserve
Design a space that is for future generations to enjoy and care for