Image: accessible beach mat, Henley Beach
One of the most popular beach access points at Christies Beach will trial a new accessibility mat this summer, helping people with disability and reduced mobility make their way across the soft sand.
The Beach Road access point already features a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant elevated pathway from the road to the sand, making it an ideal location for the trial.
The new mat will extend from the existing pathway across the soft sand, providing a firmer and more stable surface to help people get closer to the hard sand and water’s edge.
However, because tides, shifting sand and changing beach conditions continually reshape the shoreline, the mat may not always extend all the way to the hard sand. It will be positioned to provide access for as much of the time as possible while reducing the risk of damage from waves, storms and king tides.
The temporary mat will be installed ahead of summer 2026/27, with work beginning in November and expected to take around one week. The Beach Road access ramp will be closed during construction, with alternative beach access available 240 metres south.
The mat is expected to remain in place until around March or April 2027, when it will be removed ahead of the storm season.
The City of Onkaparinga will use the trial to assess how the mat performs in local coastal conditions, how it is used by the community and whether similar accessible beach infrastructure could be introduced in the future.
Council will also be seeking feedback from beachgoers, particularly people with lived experience of disability or mobility challenges, once the mat is in place.
For more info, click here.
