Extended hours begin at Riverway Lagoons

The Townsville community and visitors can now enjoy Townsville’s iconic Riverway lagoons for longer with extended supervised operating hours beginning today.

Riverway will now be open 6am to 8pm, seven days a week during the warmer months, providing up to 14 hours of daily access under lifeguard supervision.

Mayor Nick Dametto said the new hours would help locals make the most of the facility throughout the year.

“From today, Riverway is open from 6am to 8pm with lifeguards on duty helping to keep our community safe,” Cr Dametto said.

“We worked hard to negotiate additional hours for our lagoon users, and I’m pleased Council was able to balance the additional cost with our community’s expectations.”

Divisional Councillor and Deputy Mayor Suzy Batkovic said the extended hours allowed residents to enjoy Riverway before and after work, school and sport.

“These hours mean people can swim in the morning or enjoy the lagoons on warm summer evenings, while maintaining strong safety standards,” Cr Batkovic said.

“I’m excited to see people making the most of this terrific spot once again - whether it’s an early morning swim or an evening dip, with the chance to enjoy a barbecue dinner.”

In February, opening hours were temporarily reduced to 9am–6pm after Council received a recommendation from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, ensuring operating hours aligned with supervision.

Councillor Dametto reminded Lagoon users to follow the instructions of lifeguards and Riverway security staff in and around the lagoons.

“We want people having fun and utilising these facilities safely so it’s vital that lagoon users follow the rules and listen to the instructions of lifeguards and security officers,” he said.

From today, hours increase to 6am–8pm.

Ongoing operating hours:

• 6am–8pm from 1 November to 30 April
• 6am–6pm from 1 May to 31 October
• Seven days a week, during supervised hours only

For more information visit the Riverway Lagoons page on Council's website.