The City of Holdfast Bay is trialling the use of recycled plastic posts and handrails at various beach access locations. Located 11 kilometres southwest of the Adelaide CBD, Holdfast Bay is Adelaide’s premier seaside destination.
Covering just 14 square kilometres, no part of the City is more than 2.5 kilometres from the foreshore.
Council developed the handrails and posts in conjunction with a local manufacturer that focuses on providing environmentally friendly products for public open spaces.
These particular handrails are made from Council’s old, damaged and broken 240 litre bins. It is estimated that by using recycled plastic, Council will divert 818 kilograms of plastic from landfill, which equates to just over 50 bins.
City of Holdfast Bay Mayor, Ken Rollond, said the trial aims to overcome the issue of traditional post and handrail systems rusting out very quickly.
“The recycled plastic handrail will never rust, so it’s great for withstanding the coastal elements,” he said.
CEO Justin Lynch said the upfront cost of the handrails, including installation, is approximately double that of the traditional galvanised pipe handrails system.
“However the pipe handrail system only lasts an average of two to three years,” he said. “They deteriorate much more rapidly than plastic, so aesthetically look dilapidated quite quickly.
“Apart from a small stainless steel bracket, which can be easily replaced, the recycled plastic handrail system has no steel component.
“Therefore, it is not expected to rust or weather, thus having a far longer lifecycle.
“We are hoping it will last in the order of ten to 20 years plus, so from an asset management and lifecycle cost perspective, they are significantly cheaper.”
Justin Lynch said Council’s Works staff were heavily involved in the development of the rails, due to their wealth of field knowledge and indepth understanding of installation requirements.
“The manufacturer designed the handrail, coming back to Council each time for feedback and suggested improvements,” he said. “There were at least six designs before the final one was settled upon.”
Council will monitor the performance of the new handrails over the next five years, but with early indications showing positive signs, more will be installed before Christmas, and eventually they could be installed right along the coast.
The product is now available for purchase Australiawide.
For further information contact Council on (08) 8229 9999.
