New Pool Chair Lift for Port Pirie Aquatic and Leisure Centre
For the very first time, many Port Pirie locals with a disability will be able to go for a swim at their local pool with confidence that they can safely enter and exit the water.
Port Pirie Regional Council, Belgravia Leisure and the Belgravia Foundation have partnered to fund a new pool chair at Port Pirie Aquatic Leisure Centre to create a more inclusive environment at the Centre, ensuring no-one misses out on the benefits of water-based leisure and fitness activities.
“Shortly after opening it became clear that we had no way of assisting those in the community with a disability to enter or exit the pool without the use of a mechanical aid, given our stairs are too steep”, Catherine Foreman, South Australian State Manager for Belgravia Leisure said.
“Community feedback was also telling us that this was a gap, including students needing to attend the Department for Education and Child Development swimming lessons who had to be manually lifted in and out of the pool.
“We are so very pleased to now be providing this pool accessibility equipment, and with 136kg lifting capacity, the ‘PAL’ (Portable Aquatic Lift) enables us to welcome those in the community with a disability to actively engage in aquatic leisure experiences all year round via the outdoor pool during the summer months or the heated indoor pool.
“Belgravia Foundation funds are raised locally and spent locally, so I would like to extend my thanks to the Port Pirie community, as without this community support this initiative would have not been possible, Catherine concluded.
The pool chair lift or ‘PAL’ (Portable Aquatic Lift) can be moved and operated by one person with ease and includes an extended vertical range with 240° rotation and a stability strap to help ensure safe transfer of guests.
Belgravia Leisure strives to support all in the community to connect and benefit from the services, programs, employment and facilities it provides in Australia and New Zealand. Through participation in these experiences, all people are provided access to opportunities that can contribute to improved health and happiness, irrespective of any personal characteristic or circumstance.
About Belgravia Leisure:
Formed in 1990, Belgravia Leisure is passionate about connecting communities to leisure. Working in partnership with Government, not-for profit and the commercial sector, Belgravia Leisure has a strong track record of delivering diverse, accessible and affordable health and wellness services across Australia and New Zealand.
Currently partnering with more than 70 Local and State Government authorities, Belgravia Leisure adopts an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable approach to operations across all its sites, with a focus on healthy communities today and in thefuture.
Belgravia Leisure employs more than 5,500 staff in 220+ swim, sports, fitness, health and wellness and leisure facilities, and is part of Australian company, Belgravia Group, which also owns Genesis Fitness Clubs, Jump Swim School, Belgravia Kids, Coaching Zone and Ninja Parc.
Media Contact:
Belgravia Leisure
Kristy Brown
Head of Communications
Mobile: 0411 065 926
Email: kbrown@belgravialeisure.com.au
