Summer callout to remind beachgoers there are 15 patrolled beaches across the Coast that provide free access to beach wheelchairs and four popular locations with beach matting this summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said it\u2019s important to ensure that everyone in our community and visitors are equally able to enjoy what the Central Coast has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHeading to the beach is a major part of our community\u2019s lifestyle in the summer and is a huge asset that attracts visitors to our region each year,\u201d Mr Hart said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing able to access the shoreline for a swim and enjoying our beaches is a key priority people with disability and reduced mobility continually tell us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProviding beach wheelchairs and beach matting to improve access is a step towards ensuring everyone can enjoy our coastline this summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis service not only improves access and inclusion for people in the community living with a disability, but also enables others with limited mobility, or even parents with prams to access the sand and water – allowing summer fun for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said it is initiatives and services like this that are a vital part of our Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP*)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe DIAP is about creating opportunities for people with a disability where all people feel welcome and can participate in community life, including visitors,\u201d Ms Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeach Wheelchairs and Beach matting is an example of Council\u2019s commitment to delivering and implementing actions from the DIAP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only three beaches, Soldiers Beach, The Entrance Beach and North Entrance Beach won\u2019t have beach wheelchairs currently due to severe beach erosion from recent storm events and large swell fronts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Council continually monitors all its patrolled beach locations and is undertaking ongoing repairs to these assets throughout the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beach wheelchairs<\/strong> are available to residents and visitors for free at the following patrolled beaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beach matting<\/strong> is available at Toowoon Bay, Umina Beach, Ocean Beach and Terrigal Beach providing a stable non-slip, cool surface to enable easier access to the sand and water\u2019s edge to those who may use wheelchairs, mobility aids, or prams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To book a beach wheelchair online<\/a> or for more information go Council\u2019s website centralcoast.nsw.gov.au and search \u2018beach accessibility<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *The Disability and Inclusion Action Plan is a four-year plan consisting of strategies and actions to develop positive community attitudes and behaviours, create liveable communities, support access to meaningful employment, and improve access to services through better systems and processes for people living with a disability. A key part of the DIAP is improving access to and enjoyment of public spaces and places, including the Coast\u2019s beaches. The latest <\/em>Central Coast Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025 <\/em><\/a>and <\/em>Easy English version<\/em><\/a> are available on the Central Coast website under ‘Strategies and Plans at <\/em>www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Summer callout to remind beachgoers there are 15 patrolled beaches across the Coast that provide free access to beach wheelchairs and four popular locations with beach matting this summer season.…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"series":[115],"class_list":["post-3563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events","series-coffee-with-a-coastie"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/wheelchairs-and-matting.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"\n
Wheelchairs and matting on our Beaches, creating Summer Fun for All!<\/a><\/blockquote>