The Sealers Cove walking track at Wilsons Promontory has reopened after almost five years, restoring access to one of the national park’s southern walking routes. ABC News Australia reports that the track and boardwalk were closed after successive storms battered the area in 2021.
The reopening comes ahead of the summer period, when Parks Victoria expects the popular park to receive increased visitation. Wilsons Promontory, also known as Yiruk Wamoon, attracts about 600,000 visitors each year, according to the supplied report, and the closure had restricted access to several well-known coves and beaches.
The Victorian government allocated $4.8 million to rebuild a two-kilometre section of boardwalk, as part of a wider $23 million Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation Project. The boardwalk had been in place since the late 1970s and had previously sustained major damage during a flood in 2011 before the later storms made a complete rebuild necessary.
The remote location presented significant logistical difficulties. With no vehicle access to Sealers Cove, workers and materials had to be transported by walking track, boat from Port Welshpool or helicopter. Up to nine people worked on a rotating roster, spending as many as 10 days at a time in a temporary camp equipped with a mess tent, kitchen, tool storage and hot showers.
Engineers and construction workers collaborated with traditional owners, Parks Victoria scientists and rangers to remove the damaged structure and assess the site. The replacement boardwalk is made from fibre-reinforced plastic and has been built about 30 centimetres higher, with the project taking account of rising sea levels.
Brett Mitchell, the area’s chief ranger, described the reopening as a major achievement and said the southern circuit’s full access was expected to bring a large influx of hikers. Project manager Stephen Erickson said the isolated worksite offered regular sightings of wildlife, including whales and kookaburras, alongside the practical challenges of rebuilding infrastructure in a swamp.