Ōtaki Beach and Paraparaumu Beach accessway upgrades

Concept idea only – AI generated

Accessways are places where people can view and/or get to the beach. As part of our Open Spaces Strategy to improve accessibility so everyone can enjoy our destination beaches, we’re developing plans for beach accessways for Ōtaki Beach near the pavilion, and Maclean Park in Paraparaumu Beach. The plans are due to be finalised by June 2025.

The beach accessways should provide:

• the ability for everyone, including people with low mobility, to get to or connect with the beach every day
• greater accessibility for those less mobile, such as ramps with less than 1 in 12 gradients, steps with handrails and stable footing
• a separation of pedestrians, horses and vehicles, eg, around boat launching areas
• ramps/paths/steps that can be reinstated quickly after weather events
• good signage that allows users to locate the accessway that best suits their needs, eg, ramp for kayak, handrails, off-road carparks, and will make reporting damage/service requests more efficient.

We’ve engaged with our partners, key stakeholders and people with low mobility to develop draft concept plans for accessways for both areas. Before the plans are finalised, we want to hear what’s important to our community about providing accessible and sustainable accessways to our destination beaches.

Accessibility:

• pedestrian circulation – provide direct connections to amenities
• inclusivity – everyone can get to the beach every day
• multimodal – provide bike infrastrcuture and separate users where possible.

Connectivity:

• connections to nature
• integrate with exsiting infrastructure.

Identity:

• incorporate the social, cultural and historical nature of the site into the design
• include features to attract people to the space
• engage people with the natural environment
• provide amenities that support people’s use of the space.
  
  

View draft concept plans

View Ōtaki Beach draft concept planView Paraparaumu Beach draft concept plan

Your feedback from this engagement will help us shape the development of our accessways concept plans for both areas.

After the engagement period has closed, we'll provide a summary of what we've heard and take into consideration your ideas when we finalise the plans.

Construction of the beach accessways could start in 2026.

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