New stairs to offer safer route to St Clair surf

The new stairs planned at St Clair Beach. IMAGE: SUPPLIED
The new stairs planned at St Clair Beach. IMAGE: SUPPLIED
St Clair surfers are about to get easier access to the breakers.

Dunedin City Council has agreed, following extensive lobbying from local surfers, to build a new set of access stairs on to St Clair Beach.

"Surfers at St Clair often access the water via the existing stairs from The Esplanade and this can be a dangerous area during large swells and high tide," council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said.

"These groups have given us valuable information so that we’ve been able to design a safe route for experienced surfers that is located alongside the Long Dog Cafe."

The cafe, the St Clair Action Group and the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club were among those consulted on the new stairs.

"Safety has been paramount in designing a stairway that meets the needs of our surfing fraternity but also keeps the public safe, particularly young children," Ms Benson said.

"For that reason, we will install a new safety gate that has a mechanism designed to prevent young children from being able to gain entry."

Building work begins on Monday and the $230,000 project is expected to be finished by the end of June.

High seas have battered the south coast in recent days and damaged the sea wall stairs on The Esplanade, causing them to be closed until repairs were made.

 

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