There's no better way to get up close and personal with the famous Macquarie Marshes than to take a walk along the Burrima Boardwalk.

On Tuesday 22 August a group of ‘influencers’ from around the Western Plains region received a special introduction in a session hosted by boardwalk operators, the Macquarie Wetlands Association.

Association Members David Duncan, Tony Wass and Glen Whittaker described the journey that led to the development of the Burrima Boardwalk, a unique eco-destination where members of the public can experience the iconic RAMSAR listed wetlands for themselves. 

“The main objective of the day was to introduce tourism operators and staff from visitor information centres around the region to this wonderful place,” explained Warren Shire Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Manager, Susie Balogh. 

In addition to her role with Warren Shire, Ms Balogh is also a part of the Destination Macquarie Marshes Taskforce, whose members include the team behind the Burrima Boardwalk

The Boardwalk is located on private property near the edge of the Northern Nature Reserve and the operators tread a delicate balance, aiming to restore and conserve the wetland and floodplain habitat, whilst offering access to members of the public. 

“There is very limited public access to the Marshes as most of it is on private land or within a National Park, so the boardwalk allows people to walk amongst the wetlands in a manner that protects the natural habitat.” 

Entry to Burrima is by way of pre-booked gate code and Tuesday’s event provided visitors with the opportunity to test the process for themselves.  

“Rather than leaving the gates open for visitors to enter, David wanted them to have the experience of obtaining and using a gate code, so that they could then explain the procedure to travelers,” said Ms Balogh.

Managers of Visitor Information Centres around the region learn about the Marshes and the boardwalk. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

Attendees included representatives from the Coonamble and Bogan Shires, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana, and RiverSmart Australia, as well as staff members and volunteers from a variety of Visitor Information Centres around the region. 

The owner and the manager of Marshes' sole accommodation provider, Willie’s Retreat, were both there, along with Warren Shire General Manager Gary Woodman and Warren Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Sarah Derrett.

Mrs Derrett is also the chair of both Warren Shire’s Economic Development Committee and the Destination Macquarie Marshes Task Force.

Following morning tea, the three Burrima representatives led the group on a guided walk along the elevated platform, which meanders for some two kilometers through River Red Gum forests, mixed marsh and dense reeds, an immersive experience that delighted those present. After the tour there was a Q&A session followed by lunch catered by the Carinda General Store.

Visitors get a variety of perspectives along the Burrima Boardwalk. IMAGE: Coonamble Times

As convenors of the Destination Macquarie Marshes Taskforce, Warren Shire Council representatives spoke to the group about the goals of the Taskforce. 

“Following a recent round of community consultation regarding the visitor economy in our shire and wanting to explore how best to support tourism both within the shire and around the region, Council resolved to reform the Destination Macquarie Marshes Taskforce,” said General Manager, Gary Woodman. .

“The current membership consists of council representatives, as well as organisations who include the Warren Chamber of Commerce, RiverSmart Australia and the Macquarie Marshes Wetlands Association. 

"One of our primary aims is to promote the Marshes as a major tourism destination and to optimise the visitor experience to what is one of the great natural wonders in our state.” 

He told the group that the Taskforce is in the process of developing final action plans and will be actively seeking grant funding in order to realise their objectives.

“As you all already know, it is becoming increasingly important to provide better tourist information and customer service, because by doing so, we enhance the overall experience of travelers, promote local attractions, and ensure the safety of those travelers to these often-remote destinations," Ms Balogh said. 

“Providing great service and quality information is crucial for the success not only of our towns and shires but also for the actual tourist destinations that we are recommending and promoting. I call it the ‘safety mattress’ that we can put in place for our visitors.

The Burrima experience makes the Macquarie Marshes accessible to all. IMAGE: Coonamble Times

“Some visitors that come into an Information Centre are unsure about whether or not they should explore a particular area or attraction. It may be a little way away, in an unfamiliar place or they may be worried about road conditions, for example. For a range of reasons, they are sitting on the ‘fence’ as to whether to take the plunge and visit our region.

“The information and personal experiences that we as advocates for our region can offer them, can often be just the incentive they need to make the leap and head off to the destination, feeling more confident because of the knowledge we have imparted and the information we have provided.”

The day finished with a final Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to provide input and feedback.

“It was a great day,” finished Ms Balogh. “The team from the Wetlands Association worked together to ensure that the event was both informative and interesting.

“There was lots of information passed on and some excellent networking done, in the most enjoyable way. I certainly had plenty of conversations and I am inspired to know that there is a great appetite for the various ‘gateway to the marshes’ shires and businesses to work together in providing a great tourism product across our region.”

Find out more about the Burrima Boardwalk