FORGE develops contemporary shelters and an eco-sensitive walkway, enhancing connectivity and...
- Client
- City of Ryde
- State
- New South Wales
Caring for our environment with sensitivity and extreme care.
The City of Ryde Council choose FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) as their sole construction partner, based on a proven track record of delivering similarly complex solutions within sensitive surrounds.
Guided by our proprietary project methodology, our involvement began with brainstorming sessions involving Design-Led Engineers and Structural Specialists. From here the Mars Boardwalk System was identified as the most suitable construction solution, with a series of prototypes developed to test materiality and construction techniques prior to full-scale installation.
As a direct result of this testing, specialist piling tools were able to be used eliminating any need for heavy machinery to dig traditional foundations. Materials were able to be walked in and, in most cases, installed by hand.
Our involvement.
Guided by our proprietary project methodology, FORGE (formerly Fleetwood Urban) undertook the design, manufacture and installation of the new bridges and boardwalks.
The first stage was to review and refine the initial concept plans supplied by Golf By Design. From here we recommended the use of our highly flexible and cost-effective Balmoral™ bridge system, allowing us to take maximum advantage of off-site fabrication and pre-assembly.
The final groundwork and installation phases were completely quickly and successfully with minimal disruption.
Design Challenge
The project was led by City of Ryde’s internal Open Space Projects team. Their vision was to create a safe, highly functional and low-maintenance new boardwalk that delivered a simple means of transport within a delicate environmental area, with a subtle form that blended in with the surrounding wetland scenery.
Construction Challenge
The main construction challenges were caused by the topography of the site and the dark, moist wetland environment that was often prone to flooding.
Material choice was limited - yet critical - as evidenced by the previous timber boardwalk which needed to be removed having decayed and rotted away in many places.
Every stage of the project required a light environmental footprint, including access through the National Park - we couldn’t simply roll in heavy machinery!
For the same reason, it was also essential the finished boardwalk was a highly durable and robust solution requiring minimal ongoing maintenance.
Innovations
The bespoke MARS Boardwalk System provided a highly versatile, durable and innovative solution. Constructed from fiberglass reinforced plastic, it was incredibly economical to build and install, with spans of less than 4m ideally suited to the natural topography of the reserve.
As its name suggests, this was the project that first inspired the MARS system. Since then we’ve used it to deliver many more kilometres of boardwalks across the eastern Seaboard. It’s proved to be one of the most versatile, durable, low maintenance and cost effective boardwalk systems on the market today.
Features
- 800m elevated riparian access walkway
- Subtle styling blends into natural surrounds
- All-weather materials ensure high-grip in all conditions
- High durability/low maintenance construction
Safety and Risk Considerations
While aesthetics were important, safety was paramount given the location of the new pathway and the volume of people who would use it every day.
In terms of functionality, great care was taken to specify the right materials and finishes to ensure good grip in all weather conditions. The boardwalk has been built to withstand the elements, and on several occasions since installation the structure has had to cope with intense flooding.
Sustainability Considerations
The Council was clear on its environmental protection objectives: the project required a very light environmental footprint, with minimal impact to the surrounding area. With careful planning our team exceeded all expectations, delivering a solution with almost zero ecological impact on the local wetlands and surrounding areas.
