Merimbula Boardwalk and Foreshore Path upgrade

The option of a shared pedestrian and cycle path on the Merimbula boardwalk was explored during planning. However, across two rounds of public consultation, the community strongly supported a pedestrian-only boardwalk, with a clear preference to maintain its open, balustrade-free character.

When assessed against current design standards, delivering a compliant shared path in this location would have required a fundamentally different structure and in turn impacted on the user experience of the boardwalk.

A shared pedestrian–cycle path structure would have included:

•  A wider deck (generally around 3.0 m or more) to safely accommodate cyclists and pedestrians
• Continuous safety barriers (balustrade) along the full length (typically around 1.1–1.2 m high, including handrails, mid-rails or infill panels, and kickrails)
• A heavier, more engineered structure to support these elements

Importantly, the boardwalk sits within mapped coastal wetlands, including mangroves and saltmarsh, which are recognised as high-value ecological communities. These areas are afforded strong protection, and projects are required to avoid and minimise impacts wherever possible. Expanding the structure to meet shared path standards would have required additional encroachment into these wetland areas, along with increased biodiversity offset requirements to account for the larger footprint, increased piling, and greater shading.

Beyond environmental considerations, the a shared pedestrian / cycle path would result in a very different user experience — moving from an open, low-scale boardwalk closely connected to the water, to a more enclosed, transport-focused corridor. Maintaining that open, close-to-nature experience was a key consideration, and it would be significantly altered by a wider, fully enclosed shared path.

The upgrade has focused on delivering a fully accessible boardwalk, supporting increased use by all members of the community while maintaining the qualities that make it such a valued local asset.

This also aligns with how the boardwalk is valued more broadly. Visitor reviews consistently highlight the scenery, wildlife, and peaceful, immersive experience — including views of mangroves, oyster farms, birdlife and marine life along the lake. The boardwalk is also ranked among the top boardwalks and piers in Australia on TripAdvisor, with many visitors specifically valuing its close connection to the coastal environment.

Taking all of this into account, upgrading the boardwalk to a full shared pedestrian–cycle path did not represent a balanced environmental, user experience,  or economic outcome for this site.

Council continues to focus on delivering dedicated shared paths in more suitable locations across the network, where they can be built to the appropriate standard without impacting sensitive coastal environments.

Council will aim to maintain access to key areas wherever possible during construction. However, due to the environmental sensitivity of the site, including its location within a coastal wetland and the requirements of the applicable State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs), construction must be carefully managed and staged.

The project is being delivered under a single Development Approval (DA), with all works assessed and approved as a whole. Under this approval, the Principal Certifier can only issue an Occupation Certificate once the entire scope of works has been completed and complies with the consent conditions. This means that once sections of the boardwalk or foreshore are closed for construction, they will generally remain closed until those works are complete and certified.

Council understands this may cause inconvenience, but this approach is necessary to ensure the project meets environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements. Updates on access changes and closures will be provided throughout construction.

The project is primarily funded through $8 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund and $2 million from the Australian Government’s Investing in Our Communities program.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately $10.8–$10.9 million. This includes all project-related costs such as planning and design, specialist consultants, environmental assessments, approvals, demolition of existing infrastructure, and construction of the upgraded boardwalk and foreshore path.

Due to the environmentally sensitive coastal wetland setting, the project has required significant environmental protection and offset measures. Biodiversity offsets alone exceed $300,000, in addition to the specialist surveys and studies needed to support environmental approvals.

The higher figure reflected a pre‑tender estimate prepared during the detailed design and Development Application (DA) stage. At that time, costs were based on conservative assumptions and reflected construction cost escalation across the industry, as well as the complexities of working within a sensitive coastal wetland environment.

This estimate was required to be publicly disclosed as part of the DA process, but it did not represent a final construction cost.

Following a competitive tender process, Council has secured a construction contract that brings the total project cost to approximately $10.8–$10.9 million, close to the original funding allocation.

This outcome reflects a strong procurement process, with contractors proposing efficient and innovative construction methods that reduced costs while maintaining the project’s intended scope and quality.

No. The key features and community benefits of the project remain unchanged. Cost savings have been achieved through competitive tendering and construction efficiencies, not by reducing the project scope or quality.