The Coastal Access Strategy was adopted at the December Council Meeting showing a clear commitment to get more people in Clarence experiencing the best of coastal life.
Improving coastal access means those with disability and older people, who make up a significant portion of the Clarence population, can truly experience one of Clarence’s greatest assets.
The strategy will guide all future projects, designs or decisions relating to Clarence coastlines over years to come, setting a simple and consistent way to advocate and plan for future development.
It reflects strong community input and a clear vision for more inclusive and equitable coastal access in Clarence.
Your Community Engagement results
Across two community engagements on Your Say Clarence, the community expressed a clear desire for coastal developments that make beach visits easier for wheelchair users, prams and older residents.
The community suggested coastal amenities such as accessible toilets, more seating, better paths and ramps, clear signage, accessible parking, and safe access points to the beach.
The first community engagement in 2024 received 230 responses from the community.
This feedback fed into development of the draft Coastal Access Strategy which was released for community engagement in the Your Say: Coastal Access Strategy Consultation late this year.
More than 60 people responded to the survey and provided feedback.
During this second engagement there was repeated support for features such as beach and floating wheelchairs, accessible toilets and change rooms, foot and beach showers, multiple quality access points to beaches, and defibrillators.
Most of these respondents expressed strong support for the inclusive beach access ratings (T1 – T5) that are embedded within the Coastal Access Strategy.
What do these ratings mean?
The T1 – T5 ratings will guide any future planning and advocacy for developments across coastal sites in Clarence.
For example, Bellerive Beach (West) is rated a T1 beach which would make it Clarence’s most accessible and inclusive beach.
The T2 beaches include Bellerive (East), Howrah, Little Howrah, Clifton, Seven Mile (plane watching area), and Roches Beach (Lauderdale).
These ratings mean that, at a minimum and depending on funding and other factors, all future planning for inclusive development at these T1 and T2 sites would look at:
- coastal viewing points, disability compliant ramps (only at T1 beach), disability compliant car parks and steps, accessible toilets, seating, and shade and weather shelters.
Additional features in design and planning at these sites, again dependent on funding and other factors, could consider:
- beach access mats, beach showers and foot stations (hot showers for T1 beach only), water bottle filling stations, change rooms, improved signage, kayak stations, and swimming pontoons or buoys.
By improving access to our coastline and public spaces, we are creating places where everyone can live actively, connect socially and enjoy better health and wellbeing.