Currumbin Creek boardwalk renewal protects a golden ecosystem

Winding its way along Currumbin Creek wetlands, the Beree-Badalla Reserve Boardwalk showcases something related yet removed from the Gold Coast’s expansive beaches and rolling surf.

The reserve offers its own thriving and diverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife – home to an extensive number of marine creatures and more than 150 bird species.

This includes overseas visitors like the common tern, which migrates up to 25,000 kilometres from Russia and China every year between October and March.

Add in the wide variety of plants on display and what you’re gifted with is an ecological oasis in a highly urbanised area.

In 1980 Gold Coast Council recognised the area’s significance, proclaiming it a reserve for environmental and recreational purposes, and by doing so saved it from the rapid urban development witnessed over the next few decades. 

With so much flora and fauna to conserve in Beree-Badalla Reserve, it was important to minimise the impact of human interaction in the area.

In the late 1990s, council built a boardwalk to provide visitors unique access to this spectacular area while also protecting the fragile ecosystem.

In the 20-plus years that followed, a series of volatile summers wore the boardwalk down, the significant rain and flooding of early-2022 taking a particularly heavy toll.

This final weather event led to a $3.9 million investment being made towards Beree-Badalla Reserve through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and council support.

The renewal project will ensure the boardwalk's longevity, providing it greater resilience to future severe weather events and reducing the need for significant ongoing maintenance.

City of Gold Coast is also expanding the boardwalk, with a 640-metre extension set to link Thrower Drive Boat Ramp to Salk Oval Parklands, and widening to improve accessibility and safety for all users

The wooden boardwalk will be rebuilt with fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP), a high-strength moulded material ideal for corrosive wet areas that provides excellent grip and longer life.

By choosing FRP for the rebuild, council are also reducing the impact the new boardwalk will have on local wildlife and vegetation.

FRP does not rust or break down, making it ideal for saltwater and exposed marine environments like Beree-Badalla Reserve.

Catchment systems will also be implemented to minimise disruption to mangrove habitats during the boardwalk’s installation.

Meanwhile, an increase to the boardwalk’s height will better position it to withstand storm surges while allowing more sunlight to reach vegetation underneath.

The new Beree-Badalla Reserve Boardwalk is a project of balance, managing community wants with environmental needs.

The end result, set to be achieved in mid-2025, will deliver positive outcomes all around, safeguarding the area’s beautiful ecosystem while still allowing visitors to experience it firsthand.