MP Rogers assessed three potential locations and a variety of options for beach access in Two Rocks.
Camera IconMP Rogers assessed three potential locations and a variety of options for beach access in Two Rocks. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Two Rocks Marina: ramps, stairs and octunda options for beach access

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

RAMPS, stairs and an octunda are options investigated to reinstate beach access north of Two Rocks Marina.

City of Wanneroo will hold a community information session on Sovereign Drive beach access options on Wednesday.

Coastal engineering consultant MP Rogers will present its assessment of beach access types and locations, community feedback, erosion, environment, functionality and cost at the February 15 event.

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According to the consultant’s documents, available on the City’s website, there are three potential locations for beach access.

The first, northern-most option would see a ramp built through the dunes opposite Sceptre Court, where the previous access used to be.

MP Rogers listed advantages as it being the preferred location for the community and closest to the preferred swimming beach.

It also said a ramp would improve access for “less-able-bodied people” compared to stairs and beachgoers could use the existing parking.

However, it said disadvantages included a significant level of earthworks and vegetation clearing required, and that it would not make use of existing infrastructure.

MP Rogers also provided a stairs option at the same site, advantages of which would be a reduced cost through use of the existing path and a lower level of earthworks and clearing.

It said disadvantages included that the dunes beneath the stairs would recede in the long term, and the stairs could be exposed at the end of their design life.

A third option for the site would be building an octunda, as recommended by the Two Rocks Beach Action Group last year, which would have similar advantages to stairs.

However, the consultant said dune erosion could undercut the path to it, and the access point would be in the water and exposed to wave action.

A fourth option would be a modified octunda that stood closer to the dunes, but its disadvantage would be the “significant clearing of the front dune required”.

The consultant also assessed ramp and stair options at a second location, farther south on Sovereign Drive.

It said the ramp option would slightly improve beach access compared to stairs, and there was a lower level of erosion and balanced walking distance for residents.

However, cons for the site included limited community support, a significant level of earthworks and clearing required, high construction cost and limited parking.

The stairs alternative would require less clearing, but the structure could be subject to long-term recession and significantly exposed at the end of their design life.

At the southern location, the consultant assessed options to build two paths, one from Sovereign Drive and the other from the marina’s northern car park, which join to form a single access to the beach, either a ramp or stairs.

Its advantage would be use of the existing car park, while disadvantages included limited community support, the longer walk to the preferred swimming beach and that is was not a safe location for swimming near the marina wall.

A disadvantage listed for all options was the lack of universal access, while the trend of recent erosion was a concern for all options at the northern and midway locations.

The City’s administration plan to present the beach access options assessment to the council at a later date for approval to proceed into the design and construction phase of the project.

According to its website, the City will aim to fast track that process to provide formal beach access prior to the 2017-18 summer.

The information session will be from 7pm-8.30pm at the Phil Renkin Community Centre Function Room, 59 Lisford Avenue, Two Rocks.

For more information, call 9405 5883.