Image credit: City of Onkaparinga
The hotly anticipated $9.6m Base Trail boardwalk has been in the works since the beginning of 2024, now the grand opening has finally been announced. Visitors will be able to walk between Port Noarlunga to Christies Beach on the cutting edge new boardwalk as of this Friday, 20th of December!
At 12pm on Friday the ribbon will be cut and walkers will be able to make the most of picturesque views, state-of-the-art walkway materials, and a fantastic new coastal walk.
The opening will be held from just North of the Port Noarlunga jetty, where visitors can take on the new three-metre-wide boardwalk. The boardwalk will allow access from wheelchairs, prams, bikes, and foot.
The Port Noarlunga end of the boardwalk will be fully open, with further construction on the Christie’s Beach end set for 2025.
The City of Onkaparinga is ensuring the Witton Bluff Boardwalk is a path to the future! It is made with materials similar to surfboards in order to stop walkers from burning their feet and to prevent rust. The boardwalk’s fibreglass composite frames the limestone shelf and provides structural support for cliff faces to preserve their longevity.
Director Operations at the City of Onkaparinga, Kirk Richardson, says “the trail will provide access for people of all abilities, encouraging the community to stay healthy and active in stunning surrounds, and boosting the local economy through increased visitation”.
The project serves four clear goals, which are to enhance accessibility, promote active lifestyles, restore critical infrastructure, and boost local tourism. The $9.6m project has been funded by the City of Onkaparinga, and state and federal governments as part of the boardwalk’s approved Coast Park Plan.
The project has identified a shared understanding of cultural heritage in the coastal upgrade. Marine environmental protection and the respect of Indigenous heritage have been major considerations for the project.
The Coast Park Plan identifies and prioritises segments along the City’s coast yet to be completed and the Witton Bluff Base Trail is the remaining link for a continuous coastal pathway from O’Sullivan’s Beach to Moana.
The completed segment was achieved on time, while the next stage, upgrade of the existing seawall and path at the Christies Beach end, is planned for mid 2025 completion.
The Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund will help repair the 380-metre section of the Witton Bluff sea wall, on the Christies Beach side, to protect cliffs and homes from wave erosion and rising sea levels. The million-dollar section of the project is underway, and we can’t wait to see the boardwalk in its complete form!
The board walk is now completed from the Port Noarlunga side. At the moment if you’re thinking of heading down start the walk at the Port Noarlunga Jetty, so you can still enjoy this fantastic new walk along the picturesque limestone cliffs of Port Noarlunga!
Witton Bluff Base Trail boardwalk
WHEN: Saturday, 20th December, 12pm
WHERE: North of Port Noarlunga Jetty, SA 5167
For more information and updates, click here.
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