Penguin Parade Boardwalk Upgrade Underway

With the departure of short-tailed shearwaters and temporary fencing installed, works are now well underway at the iconic Penguin Parade, thanks to a $5 million upgrade through the State Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
Positioned between the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre and Summerland Beach, the new boardwalk will provide a looped experience for visitors, connecting General Viewing platforms with habitat east of the existing boardwalk.
Simpson Construction is off to a flying start with the project, working in conjunction with the design team, led by Terroir Architects, who designed the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre.
After detailed cultural heritage surveying and careful mapping of little penguin burrows, the first fixings are now in the ground. These footings, selected for their incredibly small footprint to load bearing ratio, will support the new boardwalk spans and keep visitors above traditional penguin pathways and fragile nests. Further progress includes upgrades to the existing premium viewing and tour platforms.
Boardwalk materials have been chosen based on durability and rigidity to maximise the horizontal span and minimise the number of ground fixings. A helicopter will be used to maneuver these lengthy spans into place over winter.
Jarvis Weston, General Manager Infrastructure and Planning at Phillip Island Nature Parks said it’s an exciting time at the Penguin Parade with the upgrades set to improve overall visitor experience.
“We only broke the ground after months of careful mapping of this culturally significant area. Using technology such as Surefoot fixings we are minimising our impact as we construct this exciting project and ensure the Penguin Parade remains a world class ecotourism destination,” said Mr Weston.
The upgrades will offer an enhanced experience at the Penguin Parade with greater shared access, improved visitor flow, increased capacity, and even better viewing of the little penguins whilst protecting their habitat.
The works are due to be completed later this year ensuring more people from across Victoria, interstate and overseas can enjoy this popular, nature-based attraction for years to come.