Stonington City Council, in Victoria, has funded a ground breaking project that will increase habitat connectivity, improve water quality and provide recreational and educational opportunities.

Through clever environmental design the 'Lower Yarra River Biodiversity Linkages Project’ uses materials obtained through sustainable or recyclable sources. An elevated Enduroplank™ boardwalk with a composite fibre sub-structure, which was designed and constructed by Replas, allows users to experience views of the wetlands and the river. The location is further enhanced by a selection of picnic settings and benches all made from 100% Australian recycled plastic.

‘Enduroplank™ is easy to install due to the consistency of the boards and due to them covering a fair bit of territory by being 195 mm wide.’ Ken Snow, Director, Snow Homes – Installer.

The Nut at Stanley on the north-west coast of Tasmania is a popular destination for tourists. But visitors to the area were previously greeted with decrepit picnic settings.  The concrete supports were starting to split as the steel reinforcement bars rusted and expanded, and the timber had already been replaced. Circular Head Council realised they needed a solution that could survive this seafront location—recycled plastic emerged as the best long term solution.
The new picnic settings will be much more user friendly and are expected to last for more than forty years. Danny Dwyer, Infrastructure Project Management Officer at the council said that early trails were proving to be a success and that they would be seeking approval to continue with the project this year.

Bermagui, in NSW, has two excellent tide-filled swimming pools set among the rocks—one for adults and one for children, known collectively as 'The Blue Pool'. Apart from safety and fresh salt-water, The Blue Pool also offers spectacular views of the coast.

The original staircase was very steep with uneven treads and risers and subject to weed and algal growth which presented a slip hazard to users. To overcome this problem Bega Valley Shire Council decided to fix Enduroplank™ to the top of the concrete step treads, providing greater traction. David Buckley from the council says, ‘the plastic material has proved both less prone to weed growth and much easier to remove any growth that does occur’.

There was only one small picnic table setting servicing the entire pool—an early Replas setting— which David said ‘had withstood the environment extremely well’. This was replaced with four matching Kookaburra picnic tables and bench seats.

Also replaced were the old timber slab bench seats which were narrow, deteriorating and required regular maintenance. Recycled-plastic Kookaburra bench seats now complete the picture.

'The Blue Pool at Bega, NSW, is situated on the ocean foreshore and is subject to extremes of coastal weather and coastal action. We were therefore looking for a material that would withstand these conditions in the long term and require minimal maintenance. We also wanted a product that was functional and stylish. The Replas suite of products met all these requirements.’

David Buckley Federal Infrastructure Projects Project Coordinator, BVSC.

‘The school was looking at being environmentally friendly and we liked what we saw’ Mark McKenzie, Principal at LeFevre Peninsula Primary School, SA.

LeFevre Peninsula Primary School, SA, has installed a variety of recycled-plastic seating from Replas. Lucky students now have this beautiful outdoor area to enjoy, knowing they are contributing to a healthier environment.

'We

Dryen Australia Pty Ltd, a Victorian textile company, chose to install three Premier settings and three Kimberley ergonomic seats in an outdoor area for staff. They wanted to make their workplace more Eco friendly, but also loved the fact that the seats are strong, long lasting and require no maintenance.
Visit www.replas.com.au for more information.

The students at South Australia’s Hamley Bridge Primary School are enjoying their new Flinders settings, recently installed in a shady spot in the playground.

According to Principal Margaret Streathfield, ‘the recycled plastic settings are well used during recess and lunch – and the teachers have talked about them during learning time’.

The team at Western Australia’s Augusta-Margaret River Shire have been gradually replacing the tired timber settings in the beautiful Blackwood River with Replas’ outdoor furniture.

Pictured here is a comfortable, in-ground Kimberly seat, a neat Premier setting and, in the background, some visiting dolphins.

Paralowie School in Adelaide is a combined primary and secondary school, with more than 1200 students. The school recently spent its government grant on Replas seats and table settings for the primary section of the school.

The Parents and Friends of the School Committee is so pleased with the products, they are going to purchase more for the senior school. According to Rosalie Lloyd from the school, ‘everybody loves the bright colours and the fact that the products are made from recycled material. We would recommend them to anybody’.

Environmentally-savvy students at Hewett Primary School in South Australia are delighted that their school has invested in Replas’ outdoor furniture. The new table settings and benches have been installed in a shady area so the children can enjoy an open communal area, where they can gather to study or relax.

By choosing recycled-plastic furniture for your school grounds, you are giving your students the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits of recycling.