Set amongst the lush subtropical rainforest of Crystalbrook Byron, the resort’s boardwalk provides an important connection through the property while allowing guests to experience the surrounding natural environment.
When the existing timber infrastructure required replacement, the project called for a solution capable of performing in the humid rainforest conditions while providing a durable, low-maintenance pathway for years to come.
Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) designed and supplied a 184-metre-long, 2-metre-wide Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) boardwalk, creating a long-term infrastructure solution suited to the unique conditions of the site.
Rainforest environments place significant demands on infrastructure. Persistent moisture, high humidity and biological exposure can accelerate the deterioration of traditional construction materials, making material selection an important consideration for long-term performance.
FRP was selected for the Crystalbrook Byron boardwalk because of its resistance to rot, corrosion and termites, making it particularly well suited to the damp conditions experienced throughout the property.
The new boardwalk was designed as a low-level 3 kPa pedestrian structure, providing the structural performance required while maintaining a relatively lightweight construction.
Wagners CFT designed and supplied the boardwalk using structural FRP components, including FRP PFC/C-channel members, to create a durable system with a 100-year design life.
Unlike timber, FRP does not rot, and unlike steel, it does not rust or corrode. These characteristics help reduce the deterioration associated with prolonged exposure to moisture and create an infrastructure solution requiring comparatively little ongoing maintenance.
Its lightweight nature also provides practical advantages during construction, particularly when working within environmentally sensitive or difficult-to-access locations where minimising heavy equipment and site disturbance can be beneficial.
The project brought together Wagners CFT’s engineering and manufacturing capability with the on-site experience of B&S Landscaping and Earthworks, who completed the installation.
With Wagners CFT responsible for the design and supply of the FRP structure, the boardwalk components could be manufactured before arriving on site and assembled to form the completed 184-metre pathway through the resort’s rainforest landscape.
The result is infrastructure designed to sit naturally within its surroundings while delivering the durability and structural performance required for the demanding environment.
For Crystalbrook Byron, the new boardwalk provides more than a pathway through the rainforest — it provides a long-term connection designed around the environment in which it will spend the next century.
