An adored but decayed boardwalk that has been closed for more than a year is about to be revamped and reopened.
The 250m structure that links two resorts to a river jetty at Twin Waters is expected to get a new look early next year.
The path was roped off in August last year after it had deteriorated over the years, amid uncertainty around its owner.
The boardwalk stretches south from the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort and The Sebel Twin Waters to the northern bank of the Maroochy River.
Accor, the resorts’ parent company, claimed responsibility for it in November last year, when a spokesperson said planning was underway for the necessary rectification works.
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Correspondence from Sebel management to the chairs of residential groups indicated that work is poised to start in February and is likely to take four to six weeks.
Accor would not go into specifics but confirmed to Sunshine Coast News that “works are proceeding” and “an announcement will be made in due course”.
It comes after a push from locals, including via a Facebook page called Friends of the Boardwalk, to improve and reopen the installation.
Activation group president Darren Wood, who is also the chairperson of North Shore Village Residences within The Sebel, was delighted to be informed of the incoming works.
“The community has been waiting and hoping for this for years,” he said.
“When it fell into disrepair, it felt like we’d lost something really special: a link between people, nature and the river.
“To finally hear that the boardwalk will be restored is such a great outcome.
“It’s a beautiful stretch. It takes you right through the mangroves out to the Maroochy River.
“Locals use it for walks, photography, launching paddleboards or just sitting by the water and taking in the sunset. The views across to the town centre and Glass House Mountains are pretty special.
“It’s one of those places that gives you a real sense of peace even though it’s so close to everything.
“Knowing it’s coming back means locals and visitors will be able to enjoy it again for years ahead. There’s a real sense of excitement and relief around the place.”
Mr Wood said the boardwalk “was the main entry point for that part of the river” for people with water craft.
He said he would like the revamp to include a “proper ramp or small beach access, so those water users can get back out there easily”.
He also said signs about mangroves and local wildlife would be beneficial.
“The area’s full of birdlife and the ospreys are a local favourite,” he said.
“It’s a perfect spot to remind people how important the mangroves are to the whole marine environment.”
Mr Wood said the boardwalk was in a poor state, with missing railings and boards.
“After it was closed off, things went downhill a bit,” he said
“Structurally, parts of it are still standing strong, which says a lot about how well it was built but, overall, it’s been unsafe for a long while now.
“The sooner the restoration happens, the better, for safety and the health of the area around it.”
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
