Inclusive Beach Access at Jetty Beach Project

Coffs Harbour City Council trialed a lifeguard patrol at the Jetty Beach during the 2019/20 peak summer period (27 December 2019 to 27 January 2020) as part of an inclusive beach access service and in response to increased visitation that this location has experienced as a result of infrastructure improvements at the northern end of the Jetty Foreshores.

In addition to the beach patrol trial, Council also operated a new beach mat designed for people with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs. 50 metres of this specially designed matting was been purchased and installed to provide an access path from the base of the existing access ramp down to the hard sand/water's edge.

In addition to the beach mat, Council has also purchased two new beach wheelchairs - including a child-sized one, that were made available for free short-term hire at Jetty Beach during the trial period.

Council's Lifeguard Service managed the beach mat and the beach wheelchair hire.

Following the end of the trial lifeguard patrol, the new beach wheelchairs continued to be made available for free hire at Jetty Beach through an online booking system (see below), in which lifeguards are able to meet hirers on site at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club where the chairs are temporarily stored.

This initiative complemented the existing accessibility features within the recently upgraded Jetty Foreshores that includes accessible paths, beach ramp, parking and amenities - including a Changing Place.

This initiative was the result of a Council decision on 26 September 2019 that:

• Noted an Inclusive Beach Access Issues and Options Paper developed in response to a Notice of Motion from November 2018 (see Document Library on right side of the page);
• Confirmed Jetty Beach as the priority for development of inclusive beach access facilities in the LGA;
• Allocated the necessary funding to purchase the equipment, including the beach mat and beach wheelchairs, and to operate the trial lifeguard patrol at Jetty Beach over the 2019/20 peak summer period; and
• Required a report back to Council on the results of the Jetty Beach pilot lifeguard patrol and installation of Inclusive Beach Access service.

Council always recommends to swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches.
Remember ... NO FLAGS = NO SWIM!

Council also acknowledges East Coast Accessibility Experts for their generous support in funding the purchase of the child-sized Hippocampe beach wheelchair as part of this initiative, as well as the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club for providing equipment storage.

For further information about this project please contact Lifeguard Services Team Leader, Greg Hackfath, on 0418 285 073.

Post-trial update:

Following the end of the Jetty Beach trial lifeguard patrol on 27 January, Council Lifeguards have continued trialing the beach mat service at this location, leaving the mat deployed 24/7 and regularly monitoring, resetting and where necessary temporarily retrieving the mat due to adverse conditions. Continuation of this beach is however dependent on securing ongoing operational funding.

Availability of the beach mat is updated on the CHCC Lifeguards Facebook page.

The two new Hippocampe beach wheelchairs continue to be available to hire from this location. For details on how to book this equipment please visit Council's Beach Wheelchairs web page.

A post-trial report was completed, including results from the online survey conducted during the trial period. This report is available within the Document Library on this web page.

A report was provided to Council at its meeting on the 10 Sep 2020 on the results of the trial - the Council report can be viewed online at this web link. It was resolved unanimously that Council:

1. Note the results of the trial of the lifeguard patrol and inclusive beach access facilities provided at Jetty Beach during the 2019/20 Peak Summer period.
2. Note that a funding source of $43,500 will need to be identified through the next quarterly budget review to establish a Jetty Beach service that includes:
   1. Peak Summer lifeguard patrol as an annual service at Jetty Beach.
   2. Ongoing provision and management of the Mobi-mat.
3. Continue to monitor and report on opportunities to extend inclusive beach access facilities within the LGA.
4. Send a letter of thanks to Coffs Harbour Yacht Club for the support they have provided to this initiative and also to the East Coast Accessibility Experts for donating funding for the second Hippocampe wheelchair.

Funding update: At its meeting on 26 November 2020, Council confirmed the funding for this service per point #2 above (Resolution 2020/273). Council Lifeguards will provide the Jetty Beach patrol as part of its annual operations and continue to manage the ongoing beach mat service at that location.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the trial, and to Coffs Harbour Yacht Club and East Coast Accessibility Experts for their generous support. We'd also like to acknowledge the advice and efforts of Council's Disability Inclusion and Access Advisory Committee who initiated and promoted the idea.