Council, in partnership with the Borough's Lived Experience Disability Group (LEDG – our LEDGends) is working to improve access to our beaches for residents and visitors with mobility impairments.
One action we've undertaken is a trial installation of beach access matting off the end of the Tandberg boardwalk, between the Searoad Ferries terminal and the Queenscliff pier.
The mats allow people dependant on mobility aids to move off the paths and onto sand and safely into the water. They are commonly used with specialised equipment such as 'beach wheelchairs' but can help a variety of people gain beach access, from those with walkers to those with prams.
Anyone can walk along them, wheel their pram, wheelie walker or beach trolley along them, however we don't recommend using a motorised mobility scooter as there isn't sufficient room to turn around at the end of the mat.
This trial will enable us to learn how these mats perform in our local setting with its specific tides, winds and sand movements including king tides and storms and the regular variations in beach sand on our local beaches
Council in conjunction with the LEDG will will evaluate the location, people's experiences with the mats and how access can be improved as part of this trial.
The mats will remain in place until the end of April 2025. Council looks forward to continuing our work with the LEDG to make the Borough more accessible to all.
