FORGE details and delivers boardwalk and bridge upgrades at within Sydney Harbour National Park...
- Client
- Parks Victoria
- Project Partners
- Sensum (Project Manager), GHD (Engineer)
- State
- Victoria
Protecting and connecting.
Parks Victoria wanted to provide a faster, safer and more direct journey for the community to walk, run and cycle along the popular Bay Trail between Williamstown and Point Cook Coastal Park, west of Melbourne.
Following an open tender, FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) was appointed to construct a 260-metre ‘missing link’ at the northern section of the trail extension on Crown land managed by Parks Victoria, overlooking Port Phillip Bay and the sensitive Cheetham Wetlands conservation reserve. The solution was an elevated community boardwalk, reducing a 3.8km detour down to just 400 metres.
Pre-designed and engineered through GHD, FORGE manufactured and installed the new boardwalk in partnership with project manager, Sensum. The project was delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s $21 million Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program. Works commenced in early 2023 and the new boardwalks were officially opened to the public in 2024.
Our involvement.
FORGE was appointed in October 2022 following an open tender issued by Parks Victoria. Guided by the approved engineering drawings created by GHD, we prepared a detailed proposal for the new 260-metre boardwalk. Following a period of negotiation with the third-party procurement consultant engaged by Parks Victoria, FORGE was officially engaged to detail, manufacture, survey and install the community structure, including all line-markings and signage. Works were delivered in partnership with Parks Victoria’s project manager, Sensum.
Design Challenge
The key structural concept was created by GHD and approved prior to the tender. FORGE’s challenge was to deliver the elevated stilt-based boardwalk to a standard that was both light touch and high strength, minimising ground disturbance and reducing any impacts (short long term) on the surrounding RAMSAR-listed Cheetham Wetlands.
Construction Challenge
With significant environmental, cultural and site access challenges, installation was logistically complex and hugely labour-intensive – including over 1,900 individual pieces of galvanised steel assemblies. Outside of the piling, machinery was unable to be used, resulting in manual installation of the entire 260-metre length of the boardwalk extension. With only one way in and out of the site, multiple trades and drop zones had to be meticulously co-ordinated, with staggered material deliveries to ensure crews weren’t blocked in.
Features
- 260-metre elevated boardwalk extension
Materials
- Treated Timber Driven Piles
- Kiln Dried Hardwood Timber
- Headstocks and Joists
- Modwood Decking
- Galvanised Balustrade Frames
- Pic-Perf® Aluminium Perforated Panels
Safety & Risk Considerations
Detailed environmental controls were put in place to prevent dust and building materials from entering the sensitive Cheetham Wetlands during works. The boardwalk design and materials were also carefully selected to provide ongoing protection to the surrounding fauna and waterways.
Sustainability Considerations
Considerable cultural and environmental sensitivities needed to be addressed. From the design and materials used for the boardwalks themselves to the installation methodology adopted by our team at Point Cook, great care was taken to preserve the cultural heritage of the site, as well as the adjacent Cheetham Wetlands.
Community Engagement
Point Cook Coastal Park is located on Bunurong Country. Parks Victoria worked closely with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to develop a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to ensure any Aboriginal cultural heritage was managed appropriately if discovered during works. The local community was kept well informed of project plans and upcoming works through meetings and a pop-up event during April and May 2022.
