Little penguins waddling on the highway at Penguin Parade. Photo: Phillip Island Nature Parks Facebook.
More visitors will soon be able to enjoy Phillip Island’s world-famous Penguin Parade with construction of a new accessible boardwalk and penguin viewing stands underway.
Surefoot footings and steel framework have been installed as part of the project, thanks to a $5 million Victorian Government investment through the Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
As part of the construction, steel framework was lifted by helicopter into location, with a skilled pilot guiding the beams and frames into position – protecting the sensitive natural habitat from heavy construction vehicles.
Other boardwalk components were carried in by hand and installed one by one to ensure the little penguins and their habitat were protected.
“This new boardwalk will take visitors closer to Summerland Beach where the little penguins waddle up the shore and ensure the penguin parade can continue to be enjoyed into the future,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.
Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade is one of Victoria’s most loved ecotourism attractions, with more than 700,000 visitors a year.
Phillip Island Nature Parks CEO Catherine Basterfield said Phillip Island was one of Australia’s must-see tourist destinations.
“We are grateful for the government’s commitment in bettering our tourism offering so the Penguin Parade can be enjoyed for generations to come,” she said.
All works have been undertaken with qualified wildlife officers on site, ensuring any penguins that may be present during construction are monitored and uninterrupted by the project.
Once completed, the new boardwalk will create an improved looped walking experience to connect visitors with nature better and provide greater accessibility for all abilities through to the penguin-viewing stands.
In addition, there will be greater shared access, improved visitor flow, increased capacity and an even closer view of the little penguins waddling home each evening.
The works will also continue to protect little penguins with elevated boardwalks to allow them unlimited movement within the habitat.
Terroir Architects and Simpson Construction are working with the Nature Parks on the Penguin Parade Boardwalks and Viewing Stands Redevelopment project, which is due for completion by December 2024 in time for the peak summer visitor season.
