The City of Holdfast Bay in South Australia has done extensive works to ramp and stair accesses to Glenelg Beach near Glenelg Jetty replacing infrastructure that had reached the end of its serviceable life in favour of Wagners CFT Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) with an expected design life of 100-years.
Designed by Struktura (now Drew Rudd Engineers) and installed by CAMCO (SA) Pty Ltd for the City of Holdfast Bay, works included the replacement of two beach access ramps, four beach access stairs and a picnic area also with beach access.
Glenelg Beach is a wide, white-sand beach on Holdfast Bay that is a tourist destination known for its sunsets, heritage and entertainment. Favoured activities include swimming, diving, snorkelling, fishing and visiting local galleries and museums.
FRP is the perfect solution for the beach access infrastructure along Glenelg Beach because it’s:
- Durable – with a 100-year design life
- Inert – so will not rot, rust or corrode
- Cost effective – through reduced maintenance/replacement cycles
- Non-leaching and non-toxic making it safe for marine environments
- Resistant – to termites, acid sulfate soils and marine borer
The FRP ramps play a vital role in enabling people with disabilities and mobility difficulties to access the beach and ocean safely with City of Holdfast Bay regularly hosting ‘Accessible Beach Days’ where beach matting is laid from the ramp to the waterfront.
Accessible beaches play a crucial role in promoting inclusion and enabling individuals living with disabilities to enjoy South Australia’s natural beauty; whether that’s with a dip in the ocean, a walk along the shoreline or simply taking in the coastal views.
