Beach accessibility improvements

Project: Improving beach access for people with reduced mobility at Eurobodalla’s patrolled beaches and Narooma South Bar netted area.

Timeframe: November 2022 to November 2023

Cost and funding: $495,000 from NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund

Page last updated: November 2023

Project details

We are working to:

  • Install on-beach 'mobility mats' at seven patrolled beaches across Eurobodalla:
    • Surf Beach
    • Malua Bay Beach
    • South Broulee Beach
    • Moruya South Head Beach
    • Tuross Head Main Beach (Clive Court access)
    • Dalmeny Beach
    • Narooma Surf Beach
  • construct hard-surface lead-in paths at various beach locations
  • extend the ramp at Narooma South Bar Beach for disability access to sand level
  • learn from users experiences during the first summer to continue improvements for people with reduced mobility.

Benefits to the community:

  • Improved beach access for people with disabilities, the elderly and users of mobility scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, and trolleys.
  • The option to use the mats at seven different beaches across the shire.
  • Encouraging visitation at patrolled beaches means improved beachgoer safety and user access to other facilities like toilets and beach wheelchairs.
  • The mats and lead-in paths are made from recycled materials, reducing the environmental impact.

Background and purpose

Eurobodalla’s beaches are a key attraction for residents and visitors to the area. Council recognises the requests received from the community on the importance of providing beach access for everyone and is partnering with Accessible Beaches Australia to deliver this project.

As our shire consists of 83 beaches, prioritisation for the accessibility upgrades were given to seven of our eight patrolled beaches to maximise user safety.

Improvements to the existing ramp at Narooma's Bar Beach are also included in this project, as the netted area is calm and suitable for swimming.

The new heavy duty roll-up mobility mats will be linked to hard surface lead-in paths, with several new lead-in paths being constructed for this purpose. The mats will be deployed by lifeguards during the peak summer patrol period and packed up ahead of storms or large seas to avoid any damage.

While the access upgrades will improve opportunities for people of all abilities to access the beach, due to natural land formations access points may not comply with Australian Standards for wheelchair ramp gradients. This means some users may still require assistance when accessing the beach.

These access upgrades are early steps in a longer journey to improve visitor experience at our beaches. We understand some of the locations are not yet fully accessibility compliant in terms of parking, toilets, or other facilities.

Mat locations

Map of beach mat locations at Surf Beach, Malua Bay, South Broulee, Moruya South Heads, Tuross Head, Dalmeny, and Narooma Surf Beach

Project updates

Image Photo of a mobility mat on Malua Bay beach
The heavy-duty mobility mats make it easier to move over the sand.
Image Photo of lady with pram and two children walking on mobility mat.
Visitors trying out a 10m section of the new mobility mat.
Image Photo of South Broulee beach with a mobility mat
The new lead-in path at South Broulee, connected to the accessible viewing platform.
Image Photo of the completed lead-in path to mobility mat at Surf Beach.
Completed lead-in path at Surf Beach.
Image Photo of a mobility mat at Narooma South Beach
Completed mobility map installed at Narooma South Beach
Image Photo of improved beach access from disability parking spaces.
The improved access to Tuross Head Main Beach from Clive Court is completed.
Image Floating beach wheelchair sitting at the edge of a sandy beach with a background of ocean and an island.
A new floating wheelchair is located at Narooma Surf Life Saving Club and is free for use by the public.
Image Wheelchair access to Dalmeny playground from disabled carpark.
A link has been installed from the existing pathway network to the new disabled carpark at the Dalmeny playground.
Image Woman using the mobility mat to push a pram across the sand to the water.
Our beach mobility mats are great for everyone, especially prams and mobility walkers.
Image Image showing mobility mat extending from concrete path into the water.
When the conditions are right, our beach mobility mats will go right to the waters edge at Narooma Bar Beach (south).
Previous Next

November 2023:

  • We have installed a concrete link from the existing pathway network to the new disabled carpark at the Dalmeny playground.
  • We have purchased an additional floating beach wheelchair for public use which is based at Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club in Malua Bay.
  • Works at Narooma Bar Beach (south) are nearing completion. So far we have:
    • constructed a new sandstone block retaining wall
    • constructed a concrete ramp extension to the beach
    • installed beach mobility mats reaching the water's edge at Narooma Bar Beach (south)
    • re-installed the recycled plastic decking ramp.
  • Our workshop team is currently fabricating a stainless-steel handrail for the new access ramp at Narooma Bar Beach (south). This final piece of work will be completed by the end of November.
  • We will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast, as the beach mats do not handle the surging waves that can be present during large swell events.

August 2023:

  • Our outdoor crew have completed line marking for new disability parking spaces at beach carparks at Tuross Head, Dalmeny, Narooma Bar and Surf Beach.
  • We have purchased a floating beach wheelchair for public use and is based at Narooma Surf Life Saving Club.
  • Our outdoor crew have also completed rectification and improvement of the beach access and pathway at Tuross Head Main Beach (Clive Court).
  • We will be starting works at Narooma Bar Beach (south) and continuing through September and October, consisting of:
    • temporarily relocating the existing stone boulders on site to enable construction of new access ramp
    • deconstructing the existing ramp and retaining wall
    • constructing a new sandstone block retaining wall
    • constructing a concrete ramp extension to beach
    • re-installing the recycled plastic decking ramp.

March 2023:

  • The beach mobility mats were well used over the summer and Council received lots of positive feedback, and a few hints and tips. The lessons we learnt so far will be incorporated to further improve user experiences next summer.
  • Thanks to the assistance of our volunteer Surf Life Saving Clubs, the mats will stay out until Anzac Day at Malua Bay, South Broulee, Moruya South Head, and Narooma Surf Beaches (weather permitting).
  • We'll soon be line-marking for new disability parking spaces at beach car parks at Moruya South Head, Tuross Head, Dalmeny, and Narooma Bar and Surf beaches.
  • We are now developing designs for the extension and upgrade of the beach access ramp at Narooma South Bar Beach.

February 2023:

  • The mobility mats proved popular over the school holidays. From feedback, we've learned how we can offer visitors an even better experience next summer.
  • Council is working with Surf Life Saving Clubs to continue provision of the mats at Malua Bay, Broulee, Moruya South Head and Narooma Surf Beach through to Anzac Day, conditions permitting.

December 2022

  • We've completed new recycled-plastic lead-in paths at Surf Beach, Malua Bay, South Broulee and Narooma surf beach.
  • A new sandstone block retaining wall and revegetation works at South Broulee will help to stabilise the dune area around the new path.
  • We will roll out mobility mats at the seven beaches on 21 December to coincide with the beginning of the professional lifeguard patrol season.

November 2022

  • We've scheduled construction of lead-in paths at Malua Bay, South Broulee and Narooma surf beach for early December.
  • Mobility mats will be in operation from the beginning of the school holidays and throughout the peak summer period.

More information

For more information please contact Council's Recreation Services team: