Access to Peninsula beaches will be a lot easier for people with limited mobility or living with a disability this summer, with the availability of beach wheelchairs at selected beaches and the installation of beach matting at Umina and Ocean Beach.
The beach wheelchairs are available at Killcare Beach, Ocean Beach and Umina Beach.
To accommodate varied needs, there are three models of beach wheelchairs including the Sand Cruiser (available at all the above locations), plus the Hippocampe and Water Wheel (at selected suitable locations).
While beach wheelchair hire can be arranged on site through the lifeguards at individual Surf Life Saving Clubs, online bookings are highly encouraged to ensure the preferred model of beach wheelchair is available.
This is also the best way to arrange relocation of beach wheelchairs for individual or group bookings in advance.
Beaches where matting has been installed have been chosen because erosion is low to moderate and they are relatively flat.
The bright, blue matting is rolled out and secured over the sand and usable by all beach goers providing a stable, non-slip, cool surface particularly for people who may use wheelchairs, mobility aids, or prams to have easier access across the sand.
Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said it’s important to ensure that everyone in the community and visitors can participate in all aspects of community life.
“With an abundance of beautiful beaches on the Coast, heading to the beach is a major part of our community’s lifestyle and these natural assets attract hundreds of tourists to our region each year,” Hart said.
“Providing beach wheelchairs and beach matting improves access and inclusion and ensures everyone can join in and enjoy our coastline.
“Council is committed to the continual improvement of access for people with disabilities, and this is one example of delivering on this goal and implementing actions from our Disability and Inclusion Action Plan.”
To book a beach wheelchair online or for more information go to Council’s website centralcoast.nsw.gov.au and search ‘beach accessibility’.
Source:
Media release, Jan 11
Central Coast Council