13th Beach Trail
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In July 2009 the Committee resolved that following upon receipt of the consultant's report , to have further investigations undertaken on 3 recommended trail sections ie
- 33W Signpost car park to the 13th Beach SLSC by way of a trail immediately inside the fence line on the north side of 13th Beach Rd.
- Linkage from Stephens Parade to 33W Signpost car park
- Linkage from Stephens Parade to 32W Beacon Car Park
Background
In May 2004 the Barwon Coast Committee received from its reference group , the Barwon Coast Trail Strategy. The Reference Group in submitting the report advocated for an off road path along 13th Beach Road from Golf Links Rd to the 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club as a priority.
Such a trail had been advocated for some time and was recommended in the 1999 Barwon Heads Access Plan
Over the next few years the concept of the trail on the south side of 13th Beach Rd was developed and by early 2007 plans were finalized for submission for Coastal Management Act consent from the Department of Sustainability and Environment and a Planning Permit from the City of Greater Geelong for native vegetation removal.
The City of Greater Geelong placed the Planning Permit application on public display and a substantial number of submissions were received with the vast majority being against the proposal.
The Committee having reviewed those submissions resolved at its meeting on 19th June 2007 to withdraw the planning permit application and to review a range of other options to provide safe access to the beaches on 13th Beach Rd for young cyclists with surfboards, walkers, and recreational cyclists
Following upon the June 2007 resolve to review a range of other options, consultants were engaged to:
- Review previously identified alternative alignments for the Trail
- Identify additional alternative alignments for the Trail
- Assess the alternative alignments that have most potential
- Provide a report to Barwon Coast highlighting a shortlist of alternative alignments for the Trail
After reviewing the consultants September 2008 report, the Committee resolved in November 2008 to continue to further pursue their June 2007 resolve ie
"That a bollard - type safe walking route be investigated for Stephens Parade, Barwon Heads through to Signposts 33W and that linking paths from Stephens Parade through to 13th Beach Road be designed and costed based upon an environmental assessment to reduce encroachment and duplication of the acknowledged existing informal pathways.” and “That a trail from Signposts (33W) to 13th Beach SLSC (34W) be investigated including an environmental assessment and costings”
In March 2009 the Committee appointed Thompson Berrill Landscape Design (TBLD) to undertake a preliminary concept plan to:
- Indicate proposed works (if any) on Stephens Parade to establish a defined 'shared zone' access.
- Detail the preferred trail alignment and typical construction details for the new path access through the dunes from Stephens Parade through to 33W Signpost Car Park.
- Redesign the 33W Signpost Beach Car Park to provide improved pedestrian/cyclist access through/around the car park and across the road to the beach access stairs and to enable continuation along the north side of the road through to the SLSC.
In May 2009 the brief to TBLD was amended to require the investigation of 2 possible trail alignments from 33W Signpost to 13th Beach SLSC one of which being immediately adjacent to the 13th Beach Rd
In July 2009 the Committee resolved that they had a responsibility for providing safe access to beaches from Golflinks Rd to 13th Beach
The Committee further resolved at that meeting following upon receipt of TBLD’s report to have further investigations undertaken on 3 recommended trail sections ie
- 33W Signpost car park to the 13th Beach SLSC by way of a trail immediately inside the fence line on the north side of 13th Beach Rd.
- Linkage from Stephens Parade to 33W Signpost car park
- Linkage from Stephens Parade to 32W Beacon Car Park
Options for trail along Stephens Parade and a linkage from Stephens parade to 31W Cylinders Car Park were not supported
Additionally it was resolved that an approach again be made to the City of Greater Geelong with regards to sealing the edges of 13th Beach Rd particularly from Golf Links Rd to 32W Beacon
In October 2009, the Committee resolved to engage TBLD to undertake the next stage of the project including:
- Undertaking detailed flora assessment for the proposed trail alignment
- Advise as to the need or not to undertake a Cultural Heritage Management Plan
- Provide a preliminary cost estimate for works