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26 ParaQuad News • Issue 1 Autumn 2016
heelchair users living
in Newcastle can
now access more of
the city’s coastline
path, following an award winning
upgrade that has resulted in use of
the path almost doubling, according
to Newcastle City Council.
The Bathers Way path connects
Newcastle’s beaches, covering
6km of the city’s coastline between
Merewether Ocean Baths to
Nobby’s Beach. Council committed
to upgrading the Bathers Way when
it asked the community to rank the
most important projects needed
along their coast.
Senior Project Planner for Council
Heidi Kolatchew says before work
began, Bathers Way was little more
than a one metre wide asphalt
footpath - congested, inaccessible
for many and struggling to cope
with the volume of people wishing
to access the coast, with up to 500
people an hour trying to use the path
in some locations.
“It was very clear to the design
team that we needed to create
enough space for everyone, to truly
realise the potential of our coastline.
This meant providing facilities for an
incredibly diverse range of uses and
ensuring the path itself could cater
for surfers, wheelchair users, pram-
pushers, skateboarders, scooters
and everything in between.”
So far around half of the Bathers
Way has been upgraded, with the
path between Merewether and Bar
Beach completed and the path
between Nobby’s and Newcastle
Beach completed in January. The
upgrade also received industry
recognition, with Merewether Beach
awarded the Planning Institute of
Australia’s ‘Plan to Place’ award at
state level.
6 ways Bathers Way will now
cater for everyone
1. Path width has increased to a
minimum of 4m
2. Stairs removed
3. Path gradients reduced where
possible
4. Accessible paths to viewing
areas
5. More accessible parking spaces
6. Wheelchair friendly picnic tables
installed
Due to the topographic nature
of some sections of the path, the
Bathers Way won’t be accessible
for its full length, however, Heidi
says Council is mindful of providing
access wherever possible and
achieved compliant grades for
approximately two thirds of the path.
In addition to the path, Council
is exploring options for providing
wheelchair access on to some
Newcastle beaches and seeking
grants to upgrade Surf Clubs.
Where are accessible facilities
provided?
• The Bathers Way path between
Nobby’s and Newcastle Ocean
Baths is accessible
• The path between Merewether
Ocean Baths and Dixon Park is
accessible
• The recently completed paths at
Bar Beach and Nobby’s provide
level access to picnic tables and
viewing areas
• Memorial Walk and viewing
platform are accessible from
Strzelecki Lookout
What’s next?
Council is working on the detailed
designs for the Bathers Way
between Bar Beach and Newcastle
Beach, including King Edward
Park, which will see the creation
of a recreational hub at South
Newcastle beach, improved access
to Shepherds Hill Cottage and King
Edward Park Rotunda Lawn, new
amenities, viewing decks and
picnic areas.
For more information:
The Bathers Way Becoming More Accessible
BEFORE AFTER
FAST FACT
2million
THE NUMBER OF VISITS
TO NEWCASTLE’S
BEACHES PER YEAR
Above, left to right: Shortland Esplanade, before and after
The Bathers Way team e-mail:
W