New concrete paths built at Lake Pertobe over recent months have made negotiating the iconic park much easier for many people.
Among those who have welcomed the paths is Warrnambool resident and wheelchair user Rhiannon Newman.
“The footpath at Lake Pertobe is great. It make it easy for me to view the lake and access most parts of the park. Accessing the park can be hard especially when the grass is wet and muddy,” Ms Newman said.
“I also like the accessible change rooms that have been installed at Lake Pertobe. This can mean the difference between going out or staying at home.”
Ms Newman is a client of disability services organisation, Southern Stay.
Southern Stay Chief Executive Officer Paul Lougheed said it was important that new infrastructure catered to all abilities.
“This work is welcomed by Southern Stay,” Mr Lougheed said.
“These kinds of upgrades, which seem so simple, can make a profound difference for some people with restricted mobility.
“The Changing Places facility is another example of infrastructure that can really improve the quality of life for people who might not otherwise be able to contemplate a visit to Lake Pertobe, something many of us might perhaps take for granted.”
Warrnambool Mayor Cr Vicki Jellie said infrastructure upgrades such as improved paths were a response to advice received from the community.
“It’s wonderful to receive this feedback from Rhiannon and Southern Stay.
“The reality is that when we build infrastructure that caters to all abilities, we all benefit,” Cr Jellie said.
“We can see that over recent years our city is making its infrastructure more accessible and the current Council has made this a formal commitment in our Council Plan.”