Improving Coastal Accessibility

Barwon Coast’s key strategic document – The Draft Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020 – 2025 identifies accessible amenities and beach access as a priority. In response, the Ocean Grove Main Beach area is also seeing some upgrades ready for what is expected to be a busy summer.

Ocean Grove Main Beach has seen major upgrades to accessibility with the completion of an all-abilities access ramp and disabled car parking that will ensure that everyone in the family will be able to get down and enjoy the beach this summer.

Works are continuing on the construction of new terracing adjacent to the all-abilities access ramp with an estimated completion of February 2022 and works continue on a new accessible playground located adjacent to The Dunes Cafe.

Hodgson St beach accessway has also been improved after damage from coastal erosion became so significant that the stairs were unsafe for public use.  Barwon Coast secured a Coastal Public Access and Risk Grant of $50K and matched that funding to make major improvements to accessibility at the popular beach access location.

In collaboration with Gordon Tafe landscape construction students, local contractors and Barwon Coast Staff the project replaced the stairs and gravel access with a ramp design to provide improved all abilities access to the beach.

Barwon Coast has also installed new picnic tables, coastal fencing and there is a plan for revegetation work to be completed next season

Image: Hodgson St Ramped Access