What if you had wheels and wanted to travel? Maybe you use your four senses as your eyes when you’re on holidays? or perhaps you can enjoy the views while you travel, but need text technology to be your ears?
How would you travel around the Capricorn coast if you had accessibility needs?
Livingstone Shire Council is always looking for new ways to make the community more accessible.
The recent installation of a new all-abilities accessible picnic table at the Yeppoon Skate Park is the latest initiative by Council to help bring more inclusivity to the region.
Recreation and Culture Portfolio Co-Lead Councillor Andrea Friend said by incorporating universal design into local spaces, they are helping people of all abilities to come together and enjoy the same experiences.
“For some people, this might be just another picnic table, but for Council it represents real progress in creating a more inclusive community,” Cr Friend said.
Accessibility Capricornia Chairperson Paul McKenzie said, in a recent social media discussion, that disability compliant doesn’t always mean functional.
“Public infrastructure is always evolving. If you look around the Lagoon facilities, there are two different types of tables. While both look the same, only one provides wheelchair safe access,” Paul said.
Livingstone Shire Council meets regularly with Accessibility Capricornia to discuss access and inclusion improvements across the Shire. These meetings have brought numerous access changes to the region, to help our local area become more inclusive.
Tourism for all-ability travellers and locals is also evolving. Recently, Keppel Dive and Water Sports (KDWS) launched their new all-abilities boat, Keppel Adventure. The boat allows better access for all-abilities to the 18 islands in the Keppel group.
KDWS Owner Ollie Heales said it’s a win for the community, the tourism industry, and most importantly, for travellers with accessibility needs and their families.
“We’ve always believed the Keppel Islands should be enjoyed by everyone, and now, with Keppel Adventures, they truly can be,” Ollie said.
The KDWS boat has a beach landing forward ramp, rear automatic lift and an accompanying beach wheelchair.
KDWS new all-abilities boat is made possible by initiatives like Queensland Government’s Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund. Businesses apply for the fund through the Department of Tourism and Sport. The purchase and operation of the Keppel Adventure boat represents a first for Great Keppel Island and its surrounds.
On the Capricorn coast’s mainland, there are more all-abilities facilities for locals and tourists.
At the Yeppoon Lagoon, aquatic wheelchairs are on hand to take locals and visitors into the cool, crystal waters. For beach visits, destinations like Emu Park have beach wheelchairs and mats that are accessible through nearby local businesses.
Deep in The Capricorn Caves, there’s a well-established wheelchair-accessible tour of the local bat colonies nestled in their rocky home.
New public infrastructure hasn’t been overlooked either. The all-abilities toilet facilities at The Station have been modified to be fully accessible by community and visitors in wheelchairs after Livingstone Council were made aware of potential dangers in the first installation of the facility at the venue.
The Livingstone Shire Council and Accessibility Capricornia will continue their regular meetings each quarter where feedback on all-abilities access around our region is welcome.
If you’d like to keep up-to-date with Accessibility Capricornia’s goals, actions and information, subscribe to their newsletter accessibilitycapricornia@gmail.com. Their next meeting with Livingstone Shire Council is at The Hub on James Street, Yeppoon, Thursday 2 October 10-12noon.