The Mackay Regional Council in Queensland recently commissioned Replas to supply two new composite fibre and Enduroplank™ structures, in order to replace timber bridges that were severely damaged.

These structures were chosen for their ease of installation and long life expectancy – which is up to 75 years on the composite fibre bridge sub-structure.

Next month, a new Enduroplank™ pedestrian and bicycle bridge will open, spanning Merri Creek in Northcote, Victoria. The decision to use recycled plastic was supported by Bicycle Victoria, who stated in their discussion paper Pavement Surface Materials for Bicycle Boardwalks that ‘recycled plastic planking with a grooved profile is preferable to untreated timber, particularly with respect to skid resistance’.

In maintaining a high standard of safety for cyclists, Replas installers Ken and Matt Snow will offset adjacent planks, in order to further reduce the possibility of narrow tyres getting caught in the longitudinal grooves.

When it came to updating Wellington Street in Tasmania’s historic Richmond, the team at Clarence City Council decided to replace rapidly deteriorating timber products with more economic and environmentally‐friendly alternatives.

They chose Enduroplank™ to create a sturdy footbridge that will not crack, rot or splinter, and Replas bollards to promote a green approach to road safety.

Because recycled‐plastic products will last up to three times longer than timber, they are more cost effective in the long run. Furthermore, the slip resistance of the Enduroplanking™ allows pedestrians to walk along Wellington Street safely.

Pier 21 is a 171‐berth marina on the Swan River in North Fremantle, WA. The team at Pier 21 recently replaced 200 metres of tired timber decking on one of the jetties with timber‐finish recycled‐plastic Enduroplank™, after a successful trial of a two‐metre installation.

Enduroplank™ is the ideal choice for maritime applications as it will not split, splinter or crack, will never need oiling and will outlast wooden decking by many years. The customer is delighted with the final result and now plans to gradually replace the timber on the other jetties with Enduroplank™.

Situated among the lush, tropical gardens of the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens is the Rockhampton Zoo, home to over 50 species of Australian native and exotic animals. One main feature of the zoo is the Free Flight Aviary, home to many colourful birds including dazzling King parrots, Major Mitchell and black cockatoos.

The aviary has a brand new raised pathway, constructed from Enduroplank™ decking and composite fibre, to allow visitors comfortable access through the flight path of the birds.

Enduroplank™ is the ideal product for Rockhampton’s humid conditions as it won’t rot or attract slippery fungal growth, outlasting timber decking by many years.

This expression has become the Replas motto, when we recommend products from our range to replace rotten and damaged timber signage, outdoor furniture, traffic control products and decking.

Pictured here is the recently refurbished boardwalk at the beautiful Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve in the Northern Territory. The existing wooden structure had become unsafe due to its exposure to damp conditions during the wet season, and required urgent replacing. Rather than replace the timber decking with more timber, the NT Parks and Wildlife Service sensibly decided to invest in a recycled‐plastic boardwalk.

Recycled‐plastic will last for more than 40 years without maintenance and won’t split or rot, making it the perfect choice for these extreme conditions.

At 1.2 kilometres long, the boardwalk is Australia’s longest recycled‐plastic structure, winding its way through a variety of habitats, including monsoon and paperbark forests.

Replas has just completed construction of a 75 metre composite fibre and recycled plastic pedestrian boardwalk complete with stairs in Victoria’s Ferntree Gully.

The brief was simple: the structure had to be environmentally sustainable, long lasting, low maintenance and above all, safe. Replas’ composite fibre and recycled plastic ticked all the boxes, and the ease of installation resulted in construction that was a fraction of the price of timber and steel alternatives!

Composite fibre is stronger than steel; its innovative design allows components to be seamlessly combined with Replas’ stair treads, Enduroplanking™ and bollards, resulting in structures created without the use of traditional products.

These products will last for more than 40 years without maintenance, and won’t rust, split or rot.

The City of Casey’s Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Victoria has upgraded their car park to accommodate more visitors. The new design includes garden beds planted with native fauna to enhance the look and feel of the building.

To protect these beds, the council commissioned six swale bridges constructed from Enduroplank™ decking and capping, to allow pedestrians easy access to the centre.

Congratulations  to Victoria’s Casey City Council for picking up the trophy for ‘Excellence in Green Purchasing’ at the 2009 ECO-Buy Awards.

Held at the National Gallery of Victoria on May 20, the ceremony aimed to acknowledge local governments and businesses for their green purchasing programs. The City of Casey has been leading by example for nearly a decade, purchasing more than 10,000 bollards, as well as signage, furniture and Enduroplank™ decking.

The council’s commitment to saving the environment by choosing non-timber alternatives is an inspiration, and the award is well deserved.

Recently, the north coast of New South Wales and the south coast of Queensland experienced unprecedented stormy seas, causing severe sand dune erosion on the beaches. At the peak of the storm, waves were estimated to be as high as seven meters Four metre waves were continually smashing against the shoreline, causing significant damage.

After the storm had passed, this beach access track constructed from Replas profiles remained undamaged, easily withstanding the daily pounding of the waves.