ACCESSIBLE BEACH PROGRAM FEATURES

Our Accessible Beach Program is in operation during patrolled beach seasons, generally Easter to October, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays (and other times by prior arrangement).

We have two types of beach wheelchairs available, a Sandpiper chair (for children up to 80kg) and a Sandcruiser chair (for adults up to 120kg).

Our program utilises 40 metres of Mobi Matting, which is an ideal nonslip surface for our residents living with mobility needs. The rolling out of this mat ensures a safe journey to the water’s edge. Mobi Matting overcomes the need to push prams through soft sand and provides a firm surface for those residents using mobility aids such as wheelie walkers!

Mobi Matting is rolled out dependent on the tide, mats are used to get through the soft sand to the harder sand or waters edge.

Mats and chairs are available public holidays, Saturday and Sunday during patrolled beach seasons, between the hours of 9.00am-1.00pm. All usage is dependent on the weather.

To book beach wheelchairs outside of normal surf club patrolled beach hours please call: (08) 8645 3499 or email: su49344@bigpond.net.au

To compliment the Accessible Beach Program, you will find a Changing Places accessible toilet system just metres away from the Whyalla Surf Life Saving Club.

The Whyalla Changing Places contains an adult sized adjustable change table, toilet, electric hoist (please BYO sling) & shower, a key is available from the surf club.

ACCESSIBLE BEACH PROGRAM: THE STORY

101 Big Hairy Audacious Ideas for Whyalla, is where the Accessible Beach Program really started, a workshop hosted by Advancing Whyalla with residents attending a three-day dream big thinktank.

From this fun style of community capacity building came many appealing and slightly interesting ideas: from Tiny Houses, to POP UP Paper Shops, tiny libraries and finally beach wheelchairs.

This encouraged a group of like-minded people to take up the beach wheelchair idea with much gusto. The group went on to become the Whyalla Access Group, along the way this group found many challenges in getting the project from inception to operation.

2017 was the official start of the journey, where all the excitement for fundraising for chairs began, enthusiasm got the ball rolling. Unfortunately the group still struggled with a couple of hurdles along the way including public liability concerns, lack of volunteers and a lack of storage space for the beach wheelchairs.

Because of obstacles the beach wheelchairs sat unused for over a year with an ad hoc system in place for usage. After much frustration our passionate community members approached Council to work towards a robust, well managed Accessible Beach Program, so this is where Council’s Accessible Beach journey began.

Cyanne & Zia Westerman

In September 2019 the WAG gifted the 3 beach wheelchairs to the Whyalla City Council to commence the implementation of an Accessible Beach program. There were many barriers, the biggest issue was once again around risk and responsibility. The search for a best practice model started.

With the assistance of Zia & Cyanne Westerman, beach lovers & users of electric wheelchairs, the Whyalla City Council was fortunate to receive generous grant funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to purchase 40 metres of beach matting! This gave the community all that was required for a more inclusive beach experience.

The task of program implementation and operation was gifted to the Whyalla Council’s Community Service Department, which took staff on a journey around Australia, searching for a best practice model, from Busselton (WA) to Hobsons Bay (VIC) to the beaches of Queensland and all other states. What we did learn about Accessible Beaches is that the program sits best alongside a surf lifesaving club, as they have the membership to facilitate safety in all aspects of beach usage.

In partnership with the Whyalla Surf Life Saving crew a two-year pilot program was completed, where various methods were tried, tested and reviewed. When it was agreed that a best practice model, focussing on safety had been developed, in true community capacity building, Whyalla Surf Life Saving Club has embraced the idea and has now taken ownership of the Whyalla Accessible Beach program, working towards a more inclusive community and club. With the addition of the Changing Places (fully accessible toilet system) the Whyalla beach is now the place to go for an inclusive experience!

The Whyalla Surf Life Saving Club would like to thank the WAG, community fundraising partners and the Whyalla City Council for their contribution to this fantastic initiative!

This project was proudly supported by the following: British American Motorcycle Club, Lions Club of Whyalla, Eddie Hughes MP, Member for Giles, The Wellness Centre- Friday walk & talk group, Whyalla City Council & Whyalla Surf Life Saving Club. The final thank you must go to those people who had the original vision to make the beach a more accessible location, Whyalla Access Group, without these amazing people the Accessible Beach Program would not exist!

Stuart & Irene are able to use the beach once again

GET INVOLVED!

WE’RE ALWAYS WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS

BECOME
A
LIFESAVER

BECOME
A
NIPPER

BECOME
A
VOLUNTEER

BECOME
A
LIFESAVER

BECOME
A
NIPPER

BECOME
A
VOLUNTEER