New Wheels Improve Beach Accessibility for Locals

A NEW community beach wheel chair at the Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre (BIEEC) has improved accessibility in the region thanks to almost $8,000 in funding from Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC).

The new chair has made going to the beach easier, especially for locals like Sarah King who joined her peers on the sand for a school excursion last week.

“I have a beach chair at home but it’s so nice to know there’s one available in the community and I don’t have to worry about bringing my own for school excursions on the beach,” Sarah said.

“It’s not exactly very easy to bring your own chair so to have one on hand makes life a bit easier. It’s nice to know that if anyone else needs beach wheel chair there will be one available for them, so one has to miss out on visiting the beach,”

“I love the beach and I’m always here as my nan and pop live down at Tannum so I couldn’t imagine not being able to get on the sand.”

The Hippocampe beach wheelchair can be booked for several days at a time depending on availability, it’s free to hire and can be used anywhere in the Gladstone region.

The wheels can be easily removed and each chair will partly fold down to fit in a large car, station wagon or SUV.

Principal Michael Gabriel said the BIEEC received the chair earlier this year thanks to funding from GPC.

“The chair has been popular, it was used last week by the Tannum primary school for a student to participate in a colour run event and a community member at Agnes Water has also used the chair,’ Mr Gabriel said.

“There was certainly a need for it and we’re happy to see people using it and being included. Thanks to GPC’s funding we were able to buy it for the community to use for free,” he said.

Chief Operating Officer Craig Walker said GPC was committed to supporting the community through its Community Investment Program.

“It makes us really proud to work for an organisation that can help improve the quality of life for those living with a disability,” Mr Walker said.

“By providing financial assistance through our program, BIEEC can now offer community members free access to the equipment and while it’s only been available for a few short months it’s been well utilised,” he said.

For more information on how to book the beach wheel chair visit https://boyneislandeec.eq.edu.au/facilities-and-equipment/hire/beach-wheelchair