About four years after the Wallaga Lake Boardwalk was destroyed a large step has been taken in the plans to replace it and build a new walking track at Murunna Point.
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The East Coast Low in June 2016 left the boardwalk, that runs to the point from Wallaga Lake Heights, in ruins.
This week, a Bega Valley Shire Council spokesperson said the plans for its replacement include two sections of fibreglass reinforced plastic boardwalk, one 20metre section crossing the creek and one 40metre section, aligned slightly more inland and higher than the previous boardwalk while the sections in between will be built up gravel with diamond grid to increase stability.
Also, the plan is to install two viewing platforms to take in the views of popular Horsehead Rock and build a gravel pathway to extend access from the boardwalk to Camel Rock.
Murunna Point is a culturally-significant site for First Nations people, with Djiringanj elder Ken Campbell saying it was a location where corroborees were held and has many middens, which filled the roles of the meeting places for activities that ranged from eating to funerals.
When asked how important the headland was he said "it means everything to us", saying it in that way it was similar to the Notre Dame Cathedral, which burnt down in France last year.
"Our old people used to gather there, we used to feed there, we used to do the corroboree there," he said.
A council spokesperson said the walk had been surveyed by a consultant archaeologist to obtain heritage approvals, who had also discussed the matter with Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), "which has identified which areas are and are not able to be impacted by certain activities".
"We will pass through some midden areas, that is unavoidable as they are quite extensive, and these areas have been getting trampled and eroded for decades," the council spokesperson said.
"They will be covered with geofabric then capped with gravel, essentially sealing them in the current state and preventing further erosion.
"The formalisation of the path will keep people on one track and prevent the formation of goat tracks that are uncontrolled and more likely to impact cultural heritage sites."
They said the boardwalk sections and viewing platforms had also been designed with foundations that require no excavation, such as screw piles and pinned foundation plates, to prevent damage to cultural heritage sites and avoid sediment impact to the marine national park and exposure of acid sulphate soil.
Mr Campbell said he was pleased with the plans that had been put forward, although he would have liked to see wheelchair access to the top of the headland.
Council is calling for contractors to submit quotes for the installation of the two boardwalk sections, viewing platforms, associated track upgrade works, and as much trackwork as council can afford with the balance.
The request for quotation process closes June 10 and council requires the contractor to employ several Merrimans LALC staff for the project.
Construction is expected to occur in August and September and council intends to have a public drop-in session on site before works begin.
Last year council said the Stronger Country Communities Fund would provide $225,500, supported by a council co-contribution to cover the design and supply of two boardwalk sections and viewing platforms.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
