Disability access and inclusion in focus at Rockingham beaches

Wednesday, 12 February 2020 10:04

By Hannah Salt

A range of equipment including beach walkers and wheelchairs has given community members living with disability the chance to enjoy a dip in the ocean. PIC: City of Rockingham.

To help people living with a disability enjoy the experience of a walk or swim at the beach, the City of Rockingham has a range of equipment including beach walkers and wheelchairs that can be used.

These walkers and chairs are aided by beach access matting which provides safe and clear access across the sand to the water at selected beaches until April.

Those beaches include Singleton Foreshore, Palm Beach Jetty, Rockingham Foreshore, Bell Park, Phoebe Hymus Park and Governor Road Reserve.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said they have been improving access to the beach for some time.

“Growing and nurturing community connectedness and wellbeing is one of the aspirations in the City’s Strategic Community Plan, and providing an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the beach is an important action in our Disability Access and Inclusion Strategy that helps build on this,” Mayor Sammels said.

“For most of us a simple stroll to the beach for a swim is something we take for granted.

"Giving people who may experience issues relating to mobility, strength and/or balance caused by disability, ageing, injury or ill-health the same opportunity is something the City is focused on delivering for the benefit of the wider community.”

A range of equipment including beach walkers and wheelchairs has given community members living with disability the chance to enjoy a dip in the ocean. PIC: City of Rockingham.

Wheelchairs are free to use and can be found at the Rockingham Visitor Centre, The Cruising Yacht Club and the Seaside Camp for Kids.

Beach walkers are also free, and can booked through the City directly and collected from either the Aqua Jetty or Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

For more information regarding the City’s beach access equipment visit rockingham.wa.gov.au/community/people-with-disability/accessible-playgrounds-beaches-and-facilities.