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ALTONA: Beach access
Interview: Shane Hryhorec
Two beaches in Melbourne's western suburbs have become the first in Australia to enable 24-hour access for people with disabilities.
Altona and Williamstown beaches, part of the Hobson Bay Council, have installed new mats on the foreshore which allows those with wheelchairs, prams and mobility aids to move readily along the hard sand.
Beach wheelchairs are also available for community use with no extra cost.
"We're incredibly proud to be leading the way in Victoria in terms of accessible beach infrastructure and look forward to other beachside councils following suit," Councillor Colleen Gates, Deputy Mayor of Hobsons Bay and Chairperson of the Disability Advisory Committee, said.
"We've got a high proportion of our community that has a disability and the community's been crying out for this for some time."
Water-lover Alex Gatt, 13, uses a wheelchair and called the announcement "amazing".
"It's an amazing experience for me just to experience the beach," Alex told 9NEWS.
Alex's mother, Lina Gatt, said the innovation marks a "huge day" for her son, who used to have to watch his siblings play in the water from a distance.
"He would be parked on the concrete behind me miles away… I'd be supervising the other two, it was difficult actually," Ms Gatt said.
"This is a huge day for us because he absolutely loves the beach."
The beach mats are also currently being trialled at Mount Martha, with plans to roll them out to all patrolled beaches on the Peninsula.
St Kilda Beach has been canvassed as a possible location.
The company behind the idea hopes more councils will get on board, so more people can enjoy summer at the beach.
To book a beach wheelchair, contact the Hobson Bay Council or Williamstown and Altona Life Saving clubs.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2016
ALTONA: Beach access
Interview: Shane Hryhorec
Two beaches in Melbourne's western suburbs have become the first in Australia to enable 24-hour access for people with disabilities.
Altona and Williamstown beaches, part of the Hobson Bay Council, have installed new mats on the foreshore which allows those with wheelchairs, prams and mobility aids to move readily along the hard sand.
Beach wheelchairs are also available for community use with no extra cost.
"We're incredibly proud to be leading the way in Victoria in terms of accessible beach infrastructure and look forward to other beachside councils following suit," Councillor Colleen Gates, Deputy Mayor of Hobsons Bay and Chairperson of the Disability Advisory Committee, said.
"We've got a high proportion of our community that has a disability and the community's been crying out for this for some time."
Water-lover Alex Gatt, 13, uses a wheelchair and called the announcement "amazing".
"It's an amazing experience for me just to experience the beach," Alex told 9NEWS.
Alex's mother, Lina Gatt, said the innovation marks a "huge day" for her son, who used to have to watch his siblings play in the water from a distance.
"He would be parked on the concrete behind me miles away… I'd be supervising the other two, it was difficult actually," Ms Gatt said.
"This is a huge day for us because he absolutely loves the beach."
The beach mats are also currently being trialled at Mount Martha, with plans to roll them out to all patrolled beaches on the Peninsula.
St Kilda Beach has been canvassed as a possible location.
The company behind the idea hopes more councils will get on board, so more people can enjoy summer at the beach.
To book a beach wheelchair, contact the Hobson Bay Council or Williamstown and Altona Life Saving clubs.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2016
