When the Gold Coast City Council was seeking a stable and visually stunning medium for use on their Kirra Point board walk project in 1999, they looked no further than stainless steel and after six years in service, it still looks great.

Council engineers chose stainless steel for the upright posts and moveable handrail system for safety, corrosion resistance and aesthetic reasons.

When designing the project, the board walk had to take into account a steep vertical drop to the beach below - an important safety issue met by using stainless steel handrailing.

The board walk project was undertaken in two stages, the first of which involved constructing a concrete walkway and handrails along the Kirra Point foreshore. The second stage saw the construction of a timber board walk out over the foreshore onto the beach.

ASSDA Accredited Fabricator, Stoddart (Tom Stoddart Pty Ltd) supplied 186 custom made upright posts and supplied and installed 326 metres of stainless steel tubular handrails. Both were made from 316 grade stainless steel with a number 4 finish.

The upright posts were passivated in nitric acid after manufacture to ensure a clean surface and promote corrosion resistance.

The knowledge that ASSDA requires for its Accreditation Scheme was used in the execution of the structure, ensuring the ongoing satisfaction of the Council with minimal maintenance.

This article featured in Australian Stainless magazine - Issue 35, Autumn 2006.