Issues with new path to Cottesloe Beach

A NEW log path built by Cottesloe Council leaves the elderly, mothers and children struggling without an effective handrail while negotiating its sand slope north of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club.

“Getting down there for anyone is difficult with nothing to hold on too, whether it’s the elderly or mothers with babies,” retiree Noelle Anderson said.

Mrs Anderson said she was initially impressed by a new path at the route designated N6, but she struggled to use its knee-high barrier as a handrail.

The Western Suburbs Weekly witnessed her as well as mothers and children having difficulty using N6, its log steps failing to reach the barrier and a gap between the barrier and concrete seats at the path’s top last Thursday.

A new N6 is part of Cottesloe’s rolling program to improve or replace most of its 33 beach paths, after councillors were told costs would be between $20,000 to $80,000 for the first four paths following public comment last year.

They include those to be rebuilt opposite Deane and Salvado streets in South Cottesloe, that comprise plastic steps, higher handrails and showers, about 2km south of N6.

Both were under construction during the Christmas holidays, and their on-site bespoke work continued this week after the public had walked either side through fragile dunes because there was no beach access.

Before Christmas, the City of Stirling spent 12 weeks prefabricating offsite a 35m-long, $207,600 path that was installed, and landscaped to stop people from walking in dunes, at North Beach, North Beach.

At a special meeting last Tuesday, staff’s written answers said WA Planning approval for Cottesloe’s paths was not sought because they were “incidental” additions to public areas, and exempted in the Public Works Act.

After resigning on another issue at the meeting, Ms Sandra Boulter claimed path designs differed from those approved by councillors last year.

The counciland the WAPC have been contacted for comment.