Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club beach access ramp
Project background
We’re working with the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club to improve the beach access ramp and provide safer access for lifesavers, pedestrians and maintenance vehicles and equipment.
During initial discussions with key stakeholders, we identified the risk of suitable emergency access, damage to vehicles navigating the existing ramp with lifesaving equipment trailers and slips or trips by members of public entering and existing the beach.
To address these risks, a new vehicle entry ramp to the beach is proposed at the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club beach access point.
Proposed design changes will remain focussed on accessibility and functionality to provide safer access for lifesavers, pedestrians and maintenance vehicles and equipment.
Works are supported by our Draft Point Impossible to Jan Juc Masterplan 2020-25, which identified actions for upgrading access and movement at the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club.
The project is jointly funded by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and Coastal Environment Program Public Access and Risk Funding from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. These works are also supported by the Great Ocean Road Visitor Experience Uplift grant from the Victorian Government.
Project Update –April 2023
The design of the beach access ramp adjacent to the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club shared with key stakeholders in August 2022 requires some modification. We are continuing to work through design changes alongside Traditional Owners, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and other key stakeholders. The redesign aims to reduce the risk of coastal hazards impacts such as erosion and the future effects of climate change in alignment with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018, Marine and Coastal Policy 2020 and Siting and Design Guidelines for Structures on the Victorian Coast.
Any proposed design changes will remain focussed on accessibility and functionality to provide safer access for lifesavers, pedestrians, maintenance vehicles and equipment. The redesign of the ramp will take some time and we will provide an update to the community with an opportunity to provide feedback on the final design.
Concept design
A maritime engineer with over 20 years of experience in marine and coastal projects has been engaged to produce the beach access ramp design, based on the predicted impacts of climate change.
The ramp is primarily designed for the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club’s all-terrain vehicles, with the ability to hold larger 4WD vehicles (under risk assessment) in emergency situations or when undertaking maintenance activities.
The ramp design includes non-slip surface with handrails to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Materials have been selected based on safety and sustainability. Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) has been selected as the preferred decking material due to its durability and non-slip properties. Sustainable FSC certified hardwood will be used for the structural elements and sustainable FSC certified softwood will be used for handrails and kick-rails.
The design life of the structure is a minimum of 25 years, with softwood handrails requiring replacement after approximately 15 years. Similar structures and materials have recently been put into place at the Wye River Surf Lifesaving Club and our Anglesea Family Caravan Park. These new structures have been working effectively and have received positive feedback from local communities.
Feedback from key project stakeholders will help to inform the final design, which is expected to be completed mid to late 2023.
What engagement has been done to date
In July – August 2022, key project stakeholders and partners will be engaged to provide input into the Jan Juc beach access ramp concept design. Feedback will inform the final design, which is expected to be completed mid to late 2023.
Draft Point Impossible to Jan Juc Masterplan
The Draft Point Impossible to Jan Juc Masterplan 2020-25 was informed by community and stakeholder engagement conducted over summer 2019. The engagement identified several themes and proposed improvements to be considered in developing the Draft Masterplan, this project implements action items from plan 6 of the Draft Masterplan.
What we heard
Community and stakeholder consultation on the initial issues and opportunities identified five priorities:
- Protect environmental values
- Address the pressures of development, population and visitation growth
- Address conflicts in beach use and access
- Manage and adapt to risks of climate change, including erosion and inundation
- Improve circulation path networks, and all abilities access, to and around the foreshore.
Further information
If you have further comments or questions about the project, please speak with our team at info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au or call 1300 736 533.