Stage 1 of the Airlie Beach Boardwalk Upgrade Reopened
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall today reopened Stage 1 of the Airlie Beach Bicentennial Boardwalk between Coral Sea Resort and Coral Sea Marina, which has been totally replaced and widened to improve user safety.
Mayor Hall said the boardwalk urgently needed an upgrade to ensure its longevity and to continue its role as a vibrant connectivity hub along the Coral Sea for residents and visitors.
“It was funded and built as part of the 1988 Australian Bicentennial celebrations and initially consisted of a simple walking track which connected Shingley Beach to Cannonvale.
“Now, the boardwalk encompasses over 630 metres of raised walkway structure and is a much-loved trail which allows residents and tourists to walk all the way from Airlie Beach to Cannonvale Beach.
“The old timber boardwalk had been replaced with a composite fibre material that is environmentally friendly and rust, rot and corrode resistant.
“This material has a 100-year design life which will significantly reduce future maintenance costs on our ratepayers.
“The width has also been increased by one metre which will increase capacity for users and allow pedestrians and cyclists to better share the boardwalk.”
Mayor Hall said Council had also embraced sustainability in this project by integrating eco-friendly features.
“Solar-powered lighting illuminates the boardwalk at night, ensuring a safe and environmentally conscious experience for users.
“It’s important that we also support local business, so we are proud to have worked with Plants Whitsunday on the boardwalk upgrade.
“A big thanks to our community for your patience and understanding while we completed stage 1 and I encourage everyone to head down for a leisurely stroll on the waterfront to check out the new section.
Upgrades to remaining sections of the Boardwalk will be delivered in stages subject to future grant funding.
Stage 1 was supported by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant.