ACCESSIBILITY initiatives running at Frankston Beach are set to continue into 2027.
The beach accessibility pilot program began last December, when 70 metres of beach matting extending to the water’s edge was installed. The program also features complimentary beach wheelchairs and equipment, daybeds, cabanas, and trained staff and volunteers.
At their most recent council meeting, Frankston councillors unanimously resolved to continue the program into the 2026/2027 financial year. The motion approved by councillors read that “the program is already fully funded for 2026/2027, with a surplus of roughly $120,000 in pledged and raised sponsorship funds.”
Cr Nathan Butler is the chair of Australia’s Most Accessible Beach Advisory Committee. He said “I think this initiative is one of the best things we’ve done reputationally in Frankston for a long time, and that’s not even considering the actual real-world impact it’s had on people.”
“In conversations we’ve had with people that have participated in the program, the real thing that this has done is hundreds and hundreds of people got into the water for the first time, and I think that’s really special. I think the office has done incredible work on this. I think the stakeholders have done incredible to fund this,” he said. “I think this is probably one of the best projects where I’ve seen every layer of the people involved come together and deliver something that I think is not only wonderful, but nation leading. So well done to everybody involved.”
Cr Kris Bolam, who helped fundraise for the project while he was mayor, said “from both public sentiment and the metrics, this program has been a resounding success.”
“Everyone involved, from the volunteers, the city council, to the 30-plus donors, to the Accessible Beach Australia organization, should be very proud. It’s very rare in local government you can actually stand back and look at something and go ‘that was universally a success’ and this is one of those rare instances where this has happened.
“Beyond the obvious good this has done for people with disability and their families, it’s amazing branding for Frankston City to have the distinction of being Australia’s most accessible beach.”
The pilot program, spearheaded by Accessible Beaches Australia, was supported by 32 donors. Collectively, more than $200,000 was raised towards the initiative. Council’s April agenda also acknowledged “additional sponsorship towards the Accessible Beach Program of $10,000 provided by the Bunnings Group Ltd; and the additional pledged sponsorship of $10,000, over two $5,000 payments in FY2025/26 and then FY2026/27, provided by Lido Roccella Pty Ltd.”
For more information on the pilot program visit frankston.vic.gov.au/Community-and-Health/Accessible-Beaches/Australias-Most-Accessible-Beach-Pilot