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Construction of a new pedestrian ramp and steps providing safer and more accessible access to Fitzroy Beach in New Plymouth is set to begin in the first week of February.
The project will connect the top of Ron Barclay Drive, near the bottom of Beach Street, with the car park opposite the Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club building.
New Plymouth District Council project delivery manager Sean Cressy says the new access will replace the existing ageing steps and offer a safer alternative to using the road.
“The new ramp and steps will provide a safer and easier option, particularly for families and people using prams, mobility scooters or wheelchairs,” Sean says. “Fitzroy Beach and the children’s pool are hugely popular during summer, and everyone should be able to access them safely.”
He says additional care is being taken with construction due to the sandy ground and steep slope.
“We’ve also designed a retaining wall to cover an exposed sewer pipe on the reserve as part of the project,” Sean says.
Enabling Good Lives Taranaki has welcomed the project, noting Fitzroy Beach is the only beach in Taranaki with an accessible beach wheelchair.
EGL Taranaki chair Daniel Vandenberg says the new ramp will make a significant difference for people with disabilities.
“This is a game changer for people with disabilities and shows a commitment to making public spaces accessible for everyone,” Daniel says.
“The current access is around 60 years old and needed upgrading. By choosing this project, the whole community benefits from safer access to this part of the coastline.”
The ramp will extend 140 metres from Ron Barclay Drive to the car park, with a 25-metre stairway also being constructed. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June.
The total project budget is $1.4 million, including landscaping and planting, with 51 per cent funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
