Gosford City Council, on the NSW Central Coast, has constructed its second public boardwalk using the Rocla PermaTrak concrete boardwalk system.
The new pedestrian path and cycleway crosses an area of marine mangroves at Saratoga, on the eastern side of Brisbane Water.
The 83-metre elevated boardwalk features a gentle S-bend and includes a viewing platform on one side.
Gosford Council previously installed a 73-metre long elevated pathway through a wetland area at Kincumber. That boardwalk was built in just two weeks, using the PermaTrak system mounted on support piers made from Rocla® spun concrete pipes.
Council Bridge & Wharf Supervisor, John Howick, said the PermaTrak system was specified again for the Saratoga Mangrove Boardwalk because of its ease of construction and longevity.
“Timber was specified originally,” John said, “however, there were concerns with the performance of timber in this particular mangrove environment.
With the boardwalk being low level and susceptibility to moisture and moss growth, it was decided concrete was more suitable for this installation.”
“The system also gave us the flexibility to create an aesthetically pleasing bend in the path using precast tapered planks and the end result not only looks good, but is durable, virtually maintenance-free and vandal-resistant,” he said.
Both boardwalks built by the council will eventually form part of a cycleway that will circumnavigate Brisbane Water from Gosford through Woy Woy to Kincumber.
Minimal physical impact and low maintenance make the PermaTrak boardwalk an eco-friendly alternative to timber structures in all environments, including deserts, mallee, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, rainforests and caves.
(Taken from Rocla – October 2007)
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