Inclusive Beach Protection Plan

Protect Beaches from Vehicles While Preserving Access for Disabled People

1. Establish “Vehicle-Free Beaches” with Accessibility Built In

The goal is not simply banning vehicles, but creating better, safer, and more inclusive access.

Proposal:

• Ban recreational SUVs and 4WD vehicles from selected beaches.

• Replace vehicle access with purpose-built accessible infrastructure.

This reframes the discussion from “removal of access” → “improved inclusive access.”

2. Create Accessible Beach Access Points

Instead of vehicles driving everywhere on the sand, build designated accessible entry points.

Possible features:

Accessible pathways

• Boardwalks or firm compacted paths from carparks to beach

• Minimum width: 1.5 m – 2 m

• Low gradient for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Accessible parking close to beach

• Mobility parks located directly beside the access path

• Firm surfaces for wheelchair transfers

Beach access ramps

• Rubber matting or rollout pathways onto sand

• Used successfully worldwide

These improvements often provide better access than vehicles ever did.

3. Provide Beach Wheelchairs

Many beaches globally now offer free beach wheelchairs.

These are:

• Large balloon tyres

• Stable on sand

• Often amphibious (can enter water)

How to implement:

• Managed by council, surf lifesaving clubs, or local charities

• Booking system online or through visitor centres

Benefits:

• Allows wheelchair users to reach the water safely

• Removes need for vehicles on the sand

4. Permit-Based Access for Disabled Visitors

For beaches where some vehicle access remains necessary:

Create a restricted mobility access permit system.

Possible rules:

• Vehicles allowed only for mobility permit holders

• Limited to designated access lanes

• Strict speed limits

• Seasonal restrictions during nesting seasons

5. Protect Wildlife and Dunes

Vehicle-free beaches help protect:

• Shorebird nesting sites

• Sand dunes and vegetation

• Shellfish and marine ecosystems

• Children and swimmers

You can frame the change as:

“Protecting fragile coastal ecosystems while ensuring beaches remain accessible to everyone.”

6. Use Pilot Beaches First

Rather than banning vehicles everywhere:

Start with pilot beaches.

Example approach:

• Choose 1–2 beaches in each region

• Install accessible infrastructure

• Monitor outcomes

Measure:

• Environmental improvements

• Visitor satisfaction

• Accessibility outcomes

Success stories help expand the model nationally.

7. Community Partnerships

Include stakeholders early:

• Disability groups

• Surf Lifesaving NZ

• Local iwi

• Environmental organisations

• Accessibility experts

• Tourism operators

Your lived experience perspective (as a wheelchair user and advocate) is extremely powerful in these discussions.

8. Education & Signage

Good signage is essential:

Examples:

• “Vehicle-Free Beach – Safer for People, Wildlife, and Dunes”

• “Accessible Beach Access This Way”

• QR code to beach accessibility information

9. Funding Sources

Possible funding sources:

• Regional council coastal management funds

• Department of Conservation grants

• Lottery Community Facilities Fund

• Tourism infrastructure funding

• Corporate sponsorship (wheelchairs, matting)

Accessible infrastructure is often cheaper than repairing dune damage caused by vehicles.

10. The Key Message

Your core message should be:

“Vehicle-free beaches should not mean inaccessible beaches.
With good design, they can actually become more accessible and safer for everyone.”