The Sealers Cove boardwalk at Wilsons Promontory National Park reopened after being closed since 2021 because of storm damage, Wilsons Prom area chief ranger Brett Mitchell said. The Victorian government allocated $4.8 million to rebuild a 2-kilometre stretch of the boardwalk, on top of a $23 million investment in the Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation Project.
Sealers Cove boardwalk reopens at Wilsons Promontory after storm damage
The Sealers Cove boardwalk at Wilsons Promontory National Park reopened after being closed since 2021 because of storm damage, Wilsons Prom area chief ranger Brett Mitchell said. The Victorian government allocated $4.8 million to rebuild a 2-kilometre stretch of the boardwalk, on top of a $23 million investment in the Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation Project.
Wilsons Promontory National Park, also known as Yiruk Wamoon, is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, according to the source. It is one of Parks Victoria's most popular parks, with about 600,000 visitors annually.
The Sealers Cove boardwalk dates to the late 1970s. It was hit by a major flood in 2011 and a decade later was battered by three successive storms and needed a complete rebuild, according to the source.
The broken boardwalk was removed, and a dedicated team began a planning and approvals process for new infrastructure. Stephen Erickson, a director and project manager at Envirotechniques, led engineers and builders who camped at the cove for weeks and worked alongside traditional owners, Parks Victoria scientists and rangers to remove the damaged boardwalk and assess the area, according to the source.
With zero vehicle access to Sealers Cove, getting materials and crew to the site was the first challenge Erickson faced. He said the site is 9.5 kilometres from Telegraph Saddle by walking track, or reachable by boat typically out of Port Welshpool, or by helicopter. Up to nine people at a time worked on a rotating roster, for up to 10 days straight at a remote camp with a mess tent, dining and kitchen area, machinery tool storage area and hot showers, according to the source.
The new boardwalk is built of fibre-reinforced plastic and sits about 30cm higher in anticipation of rising sea levels, according to the source. Mitchell said the rebuild was an opportunity to repair infrastructure for future generations and said the reopening of the southern circuit was a magnificent achievement from everyone concerned.
- The source does not state the calendar date of the reopening.
- The source does not state the exact date the track closed beyond the year 2021.
- The source does not name the traditional owners involved in the project or state their position on the rebuild.
- The source does not state how many visitors are expected after the reopening.
- The source does not state the total cost of the temporary camp or other project expenses beyond the $4.8 million and $23 million figures.
- The source does not state whether the new boardwalk's design or sea-level projection has been independently assessed.
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