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ACCESSIBLE BEACH MELBOURNE – ALTONA BEACH

We were lucky that our trip to Melbourne last weekend coincided with an accessible come and try day at Altona Beach (about 30 minutes from Melbourne CBD). I’ve been in email contact with Tom Bevan, the enthusiastic Metro Access and Inclusion Officer at Hobsons Bay City Council, so I’d heard about the successful trial of beach matting and beach wheelchairs last year. I was pleased to hear additional matting and a new type of beach wheelchair were going to be available this summer and went to check it out.

Accessible beach Melbourne
Mobi-chair (left) and Sandcruiser on the beach matting at Altona Beach

Altona Beach now has a Sandpiper beach wheelchair (yellow chair below) available for use by younger, and smaller, children visiting the beach.

Accessible beaches Melbourne

It was great to arrive at Altona Beach and find, not only enthusiastic beach-goers, but a news crew covering the day. Word is spreading and the facilities for people with mobility restrictions are improving. I was particularly pleased to see a mixture of people representing the needs of the community. There were manual wheelchair users, power-chair users and a lady using a walking frame, demonstrating that the matting will be embraced by people of varying abilities.

Accessible beach Melbourne
Beach matting is great for all kinds of wheelchairs

Altona now has a Sandcruiser beach wheelchair (blue chair) and a Mobi-chair available for free hire during life guard hours on a Saturday and Sunday. The Mobi-chair has been designed for use in the water, allowing floation.The beach matting rolled out on 3 December and will be available until 26 March, 7 days a week 24 hours a day. This is a first for Victoria.

Accessible beach Melbourne
The beach matting makes it possible to access the beach with a walking frame.

Altona Beach is a good position with a wide level pathway along the waterfront and a short distance between the life-saving club and the water’s edge.   

Accessible beach Melbourne
Pathway at Altona Beach

There are cafes, a supermarket and a park providing shade and respite from those hot temperatures in the middle of the day.

Accessible Beach Melbourne
One of the accessible bathroom facilities at Altona Beach

At the rear of the surf life saving club there is an accessible toilet facility with further facilities across the road.

ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM WITH HOIST

Altona Beach is now a truly accessible experience with a new (December 2017) accessible bathroom facility.

Accessible beach Melbourne

Access to the bathroom facility is via a MLAK key

Accessible beach Melbourne

The facility includes an adult-sized change table and a ceiling hoist.

Accessible beach Melbourne

The bathroom also has a flip-down shower bench and hand-held, height adjustable shower with lever taps. Grab rails are fitted throughout and the toilet has a back rest.

Well done to all involved in making a day at the beach a truly accessible experience.

ARRANGING HIRE OF THE BEACH WHEELCHAIRS

To book Monday to Friday contact Council’s Metro Access and Inclusion Officer on 9932 1000 or email socialplanning@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

On Saturday and Sunday contact or visit the life saving clubs to see what times are available.

Altona Life Saving Club

127 Esplanade Street, Altona

Ph: 0438 939 880

E: admin@altonalsc.com.au

W: www.altonalsc.com.au

The great news is, this isn’t the only beach in the area to offer these facilities. You can read more about Melbourne’s accessible beaches here. .

What do you think, would you like to see these facilities in your area?

 




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