Infrastructure Projects Updates

The Forrest Caves beach access is currently undergoing upgrades to improve safety for beachgoers.

WHAT
Beach Access Upgrades

Following critical structure strengthening work, completed in 2022, designs were developed for a further upgrade to the north and south stairways of this beach access. Designs encompass a redevelopment upon existing footings to minimise habitat and cultural heritage disturbance. The Nature Parks construction team, together with local contractors will deliver the project which commenced late 2024. Improvements include a reconfiguration of stairs and landings and replacement of deteriorating timbers and fixings including non-slip materials. Please see Fig 1 Below. Construction is being undertaken in several stages to prevent disruption during peak summer season and during short-tailed shearwater fledging period. Completion is expected by September 2025.

Fig 1. Planned upgrades of the various beach access segments

Beach Access Closure

The main Forrest Caves beach access (from carpark to beach) will be closed during construction periods.

Forrest Caves beach will remain accessible from alternate beach access point 800m to the west of the Forrest Caves car park. This is accessed by The Esplanade, near to Bruce Avenue at Surf Beach. This beach access is a sand track leading to a beach stairway.  Please follow directions of signage, staff, and contractors during this time for your safety. 

Previous work
The current upgrades follow critical structure strengthening work completed in 2022 whereby the implementation of screw piles secured the southern-most component of the stairway structure previously impacted by beach erosion.

Fig 2. Previous erosion event impacting stairway

Fig 3.Structure strengthening works in 2022

In 2015, the dune-top boardwalk and lookout was upgraded.

HOW 

Managing Impacts

The following permits and consent have been acquired for the works:

• Council Planning Permit
• Marine and Coastal Consent (DEECA)

This project has involved consultation with key stakeholders to avoid or minimise impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage, flora, and fauna.  Impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage and flora, and fauna are being managed through designs to utilise existing footings and a reconfiguration of stairs and landings to avoid excavation.

The project is jointly funded by the Nature Parks and the State Government through a Coastal and Public Access Risk grant.

WHY 

The Nature Parks has a long-term vision focused on upgrading and maintaining the ageing infrastructure across our beaches and reserves to support our growing visitation and improve our visitor experience for all. 
BEACH SAFETY

Download the Surf Life Saving Beachsafe app and access important information available on the Life Saving Victoria website and throughout the Visitor Information Centres. 
Warning, swimming is not advised at Forrest Caves or Forrest Caves (Bruce Ave), visit here for more information. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

During construction works please expect closures to the main Forrest Caves Beach Access. 

Signage and staff will be available to assist you during this time. 

Contact: Community@penguins.org.au

The Nature Parks manages several important iconic visitor attractions on Phillip Island, including the Penguin Parade which attracts over 700,000 visitors per year and is home to the world’s largest colony of little penguins.

The Summerland Peninsula Master Plan (2012) identified that Penguin Parade upgrade works were critical due to:

• Ageing infrastructure at the end of its useful life
• Infrastructure negatively impacting accessibility and customer experience
• Coastal erosion impacting the Penguin Parade viewing stands and jeopardising the financial sustainability of Nature Parks.

A detailed design of the Penguin Parade boardwalks and viewing stands was completed in 2019 and provides a staged approach to replace ageing infrastructure to provide an all accessible and improved visitor experience at the Penguin Parade ensuring the Penguin Parade continues to support growing visitation and remains the leading paid ecotourism attraction in Victoria.

Stage 1 - In 2022, Nature Parks was successful in a grant application as part of the Regional Tourism Investment Fund for $5 million. In December 2024, Nature Parks successfully delivered this stage, providing a new DDA compliant all accessible looped boardwalk, an upgrade to Penguins Plus viewing platform and a new and improved guided tour platform.

Stage 2 will replace the existing ageing boardwalk behind the general viewing stands up to (but not including) the existing amenities, providing a DDA compliant boardwalk, and an improved viewing experience connecting visitors with nature.

This stage of the project is due to commence in March 2025 with a completion by December 2025.

HOW

• This project has involved consultation with key stakeholders to avoid or minimise impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage, flora and fauna, and to ensure the best outcomes for safety, visitor experience, tourism operations and ongoing longevity and maintenance of the infrastructure.
• Impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage are being managed through a developed and approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan.  The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation has been engaged through this process as the Registered Aboriginal Party of the area and have approved the plan.
• A proven methodology has been adopted for construction ensuring the development is constructed in an environmentally sensitive way and to reduce impacts to the nightly Penguin parade operations.
• A Wildlife Officer will be engaged throughout the project to ensure consideration is made to the sensitive environment during all phases of construction.

Information on the stages of the new boardwalk

WHY 

The Nature Parks has a long-term vision to create a holistic experience to immerse our visitors in nature across the Summerland Peninsula.  We have focused our funding to restore the ageing infrastructure at the Penguin Parade to support our growing visitation and improve our visitor experience for all. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

During construction works please expect some minor delays in accessing the viewing stands. 
Please allow extra time to get to and from the viewing platforms if you are on a bus tour or time restriction. 
Signage and staff will be available to assist you during this time. 

ACCESSIBILITY

A buggy service will continue to operate throughout the construction periods for sections of the boardwalk. 
Your own personal wheelchair or other aiding device is recommended. 
Please telephone 03 5951 2830 for further information on your individual requirements. 

In 2012 the Nature Parks developed the Summerland Peninsula Master Plan which recommended a number of new initiatives and upgrades to ageing infrastructure to reinvigorate the Summerland Peninsula.

The broad objectives of this Master Plan were to provide:

• A creative and innovative redirection to define the area as a ‘destination.’
• A precinct wide vision that encapsulates the potential of the site for more diverse and layered ecotourism and recreational experiences, and better integrates environmental management, education, and research within the visitor experience.
• New or replacement facilities that represent best practice contemporary sustainable design standards for ecotourism facilities and redefines the relationship between the Nature Parks, the Summerland Peninsula, and the local community.

A number of projects have been delivered from this Master Plan including the $6 million Penguins Plus viewing stand and the $58 million Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, and the $42 million Penguin Parade Boardwalks and Viewing Stands Redevelopment is underway.

The Nature Parks is now looking to revisit the Summerland Peninsula Master Plan due to the completion of some elements of the original Master Plan and to re-set a vision for the Peninsula for the next 20-30 years in order to guide investment. The Master Plan will also consider the opportunities from the purchase of the Summerland Farm and the opportunities this presents for habitat restoration, operational use, and tourism experiences.

In addition to refreshing the Summerland Peninsula Master Plan, the Nature Parks are seeking further design work to be undertaken on one key infrastructure element of the final Master Plan, the Nobbies Centre. This phase of work will advance the Nobbies Centre infrastructure from the Master Plan ‘concept design’ to a practical and more thoroughly explored ‘detailed design.’

The Master Plan will be developed through the following project stages:

• Stage 1: Review of key documents
• Stage 2: Stakeholder consultation
• Stage 3: Draft Master Plan
• Stage 4: Consultation on draft Master Plan
• Stage 5: Final Master Plan
• Stage 6: Detail Design of Nobbies Precinct

Key objectives of the refreshed Master Plan include:

• People move throughout the Peninsula to points of interest without damage to habitat and wildlife or compromise to other users’ experience.
• The Summerland Farm complements the environmental and tourism experience on the rest of the peninsula.
• The Nobbies Centre purpose is clear and any infrastructure to complement this purpose is sustainably designed for the future.
• Bunurong culture is evident to all community and visitors.
• The Phillip Island Community appreciate, respect, and champion the Peninsula and its future vision.
• Infrastructure solutions are achievable and can be maintained within the Nature Parks operating model.

A key component of the development of the Master Plan is engagement with key stakeholders, including staff, to seek their aspirations and vision for the future of the Summerland Peninsula, in order to develop the draft Master Plan.

Therefore, a robust engagement process will be designed and implemented. So, stay tuned for your opportunity to be involved and have your say on the future of this extremely significant landscape.

The Pyramid Rock toilet has been upgraded as part of the asset renewal program by Phillip Island Nature Parks. The redeveloped amenity delivers a new, accessible, gender-neutral off-grid facility. This project was supported by the Victorian State Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as part of the Universal Design Funding Round 2022.

The upgraded structure was completed in October 2024.

Upgrades and improvements include:

·       Retreat structure from proximity to cliff edge with partial demolition of existing deck area

·       Upgrade of existing 'anchor point' footings

·       Rebuild viewing area

·       Replacement of deteriorating materials

·       Installation of non-slip decking material

·       Reforming entry path

Illustration of design 

WHY   

The Nature Parks has a long-term vision focused on upgrading and maintaining the ageing infrastructure across our beaches and reserves to support our growing visitation and improve our visitor experience for all.   

FURTHER INFORMATION     

If you would like further information, please contact:
Phillip Island Nature Parks
community@penguins.org.au
03 5951 2800 

Phillip Island Nature Parks and Bass Coast Shire Council worked in partnership to upgrade an 800 m section of the Cowes-Rhyll Trail. The project was funded by the Victorian State Government through the Regional Infrastructure Fund, which supports its commitment to upgrade and extend local walking trails to create more active transport opportunities for locals and visitors.

Local contractors and the Nature Parks construction team delivered Stage 2 works which were completed for September school holidays and included:

· 300 m of low boardwalk

· 3 boardwalk ramp structures

· 150 m of concrete path

· 250 m of gravel path upgrade

The Phillip Island Nature Parks and Bass Coast Shire Council are working in partnership to upgrade a 2 km section of the Cowes-Rhyll Trail to provide a safe and accessible shared path between the two townships.  

Stage 3 upgrades encompass the section of trail between Conservation Hill car park and McIlwraith Rd, Rhyll. Stage 3 works were carried out by contractors in March 2025. 

Upgrades include: 

• Providing an improved connection between the townships of Cowes and Rhyll.
• Provide a shared use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Implementation of upgrades upon existing gravel trail and management track sections.  

Upgrades to the existing low boardwalks and lookout infrastructure such are currently being investigated for future works and upgrades.  

If you would like further information, please contact the Nature Parks on 5951 2800 or at community@penguins.org.au for further information.

Planning is underway to develop designs for the upgrade of 6 beach access structures along the Surf Beach Estate coastline. All necessary permits and approvals are being obtained and discussions the Bunurong land council are underway.  Construction will be a staged approach to minimise beach access impacts and timing is yet to be confirmed.

Planning is underway to upgrade the remaining old toilet amenities and replace with new. 

Locations include: 

• Berrys beach 
• Conservation Hill 
• Woolamai Beach 
• Shelly Beach 

The Nobbies Centre is currently closed for maintenance and repairs, please view updated information here.