Making Glenmore Beach more accessible – one ramp at a time

When Munster was awarded the Lottoland Help ’n Dorp project in 2024, one of its earliest dreams was to make Glenmore Beach fully accessible to people with physical disabilities.

They envisioned wheelchair-friendly pathways, proper ramps and suitable toilet facilities at the main building.
As planning progressed, it became clear that the scale and cost of these upgrades were far beyond the funding available.

However, with donor funds, a beach wheelchair was purchased to make water access possible for visitors with mobility challenges.

Then last month, the opportunity rose to construct a gentle, near-level ramp to access to the Munster Whale Deck.
Resident Corrie Lotter of Glenmore Beach said the original contractor’s quote placed this upgrade far beyond their remaining donor funding, but the community stepped forward.

Thanks to the generosity, skill and volunteer labour of residents Marius Fox and Bert van den Bergh, they were able to build a structurally sound, standards-based wheelchair ramp.

The ramp now allows more people – whether elderly, mobility-impaired, or simply unsteady on difficult terrain – to once again enjoy the magnificent view from the deck.

Corrie said that as a family with special needs, inclusivity is a deeply personal matter to them.

“We understand how a lack of accessibility and inclusion affects not only the individual but also their families, friends and caregivers. And while our own challenges are not physical, we know that barriers, whether disability or age-related, can quietly shrink a person’s world.”

For many people, uneven pathways, steep stairs or unstable surfaces mean that the simple joy of sitting at the edge of the ocean becomes impossible.

Suddenly, a person is limited to viewing the sea from a car park or a front stoep instead of from a place where they can feel the wind, hear the waves and breathe in the salty air.

While the surrounding area is not yet fully wheelchair-friendly, this ramp is a meaningful step in the right direction.

“The broader vision for accessible beaches and facilities has not faded; rather, it remains a long-term goal they will continue to work towards,” said Corrie.

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