BEACH ACCESS FOR EVERYONE

Until recently, access to 90 Mile Beach at Loch Sport, Victoria, was difficult. The soft sand was a challenge for even the super fit, which meant that the beautiful shoreline was being underutilised by locals and tourists alike. A pedestrian beach access was needed to make it easier for everyone to enjoy 90 Mile Beach.

 

A traditional timber structure was not the answer. It would have required fixing into the ground with concrete, leaving it perched many metres above the sand after a king tide. The Loch Sport Community House wanted to use products that would serve everyone for the long-term, reducing maintenance costs and providing a better solution.

 

The beach access path is 130m long and 1.8m wide. Installed by local contractor John Rebel, the project uses recycled-plastic profiles as joists which are laid directly on top of the sand and surfaced with Enduroplank™.

 

The Loch Sport Community House chose to work with Replas because the products are sustainable and highly durable. As a community house with green values and strong ties to the community, they wanted to demonstrate the power of choosing a sustainable solution. This recycled plastic project saved the equivalent of 2.5 million plastic bags from going to landfill. The floating pathway was quick and easy to lay thus saving time and money. This simple structure could easily be disassembled if required and sections added as needed.

 

Enduroplank ™ decking is made from recycled plastic which is low maintenance and will never split, rot, crack or need painting. It also offers superior slip-resistance when compared with conventional materials. The recycled plastic profiles provide the perfect sub-substructure because they won’t corrode in the highsalinity environment.