Boardwalk rejuvenation delivers showpiece for the GC

New life has been breathed into the Beree-Badalla Reserve Boardwalk on the banks of Currumbin Creek, with a $4 million investment from the Australian and Queensland Governments restoring the popular Gold Coast recreational asset after it was damaged by floods in 2022.

Funded through the Community and Recreational Asset Recovery and Resilience Program under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the boardwalk upgrade delivers on the priorities of resilience and functionality.

Widened to three metres and boasting a high-grip, long-life surface, the boardwalk is now safe and fully accessible for the many thousands of GC residents and visitors who use it each year.

A key feature of the new boardwalk is fibreglass reinforced plastic, a sustainable material ideal in corrosive and exposed marine environments like Beree-Badalla Reserve.

Degradation of the boardwalk was mainly due to the many king tides and storm surges that washed over it, with the massive flood event of 2022 the saltwater straw that broke the infrastructure's back.

Increased popularity of the boardwalk among local residents had also seen general wear and tear speed up.

With strengthened resilience and improved accessibility on the 640-metre boardwalk placed front and centre during design and construction, the end result is a piece of infrastructure that will be enjoyed for generations.

Using materials that don't rust, break down or require continual coatings is also a significant win for the local environment, reducing impacts on wildlife and vegetation.

Another positive element of the renewal project is the extra public and recreational amenities now available to the southern Gold Coast community.

This includes fishing platforms, shaded seating areas, a launch ramp for canoes, kayaks and stand up paddle boards, and shower facilities.

City of Gold Coast, who delivered the project, aims to put the reserve to good use through its NaturallyGC initiative, with workshops that will showcase the local marine environment.

The new Beree-Badalla Reserve Boardwalk was officially opened by council and Queensland Minister for Local Government and Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy on 10 April 2025.