8 minute read
Lake Mac Holiday Parks chose accessibility and inclusivity
By Mandy Clarke, Editor
Lake Mac Holiday Parks recently installed inclusive new tourism cabins at three of its holiday parks.
The thoughtful project was undertaken and recently completed at Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park, Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, and Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, all in the Lake Macquarie region.
The team behind the groundbreaking refurbishment took part in a ‘day in a wheelchair’ experience, inclusive tourism training, and worked with the council’s ageing and disability committ ee to bett er understand needs and challenges so they could work towards delivering a seamless experience for more guests.
The end-result is that the parks now have a stunning range of cleverly designed accessible cabins to create a more enjoyable stay for guests with a disability. The parks have also installed more inclusive facilities, such as a pool hoist and wheelchair-friendly picnic tables.
Talking about the new cabins, Lake Mac Holiday Parks coordinator Garry Ellem, said: “The cabins are designed to align with the inclusive tourism market, and we aim to truly
cater for customers that utilise a wheelchair. However, we also expanded the options and fl exibility to meet the needs of other customers including those who use wheely walkers, walking sticks or crutches, and even families with prams that need additional features.
“Moreover, we designed our cabins so that both bedrooms fully cater for those customers with additional requirements and not just the main bedroom, which has been the traditional point of view.”
Indeed, careful thought and consideration has gone into every aspect of these cabins. From the bott om up, inside, and out, these cabins have been designed to consider functionality, effi ciency, and accessibility to a wonderful Aussie park holiday.
The guest experience begins outside, Garry explains, so
the entire ramp and large deck is covered to protect guests from the elements with BBQs and breakfast bars overlooking the prime views in the parks/surrounds.
He said: “We’ve done away with keys and our front glass sliding doors are simple to operate, at the push of a butt on. Internally, the blinds and curtains are remote controlled to allow a person using a wheelchair or a wheely walker to operate them without trying to reach around or over furniture.
“The cabins are also designed to be fully self-contained to reduce the need for a guest to go to the amenities block. We have even installed a washer/dryer combo and dual height clothesline.
“Furthermore, to maximise the fl exibility of the cabin space for couples and/or carers, the bedrooms feature king splits so they can be utilised as a king bed or as two king singles.”
However, it is with the kitchen facilities that Lake Mac Holiday Park cabins really shine! The dishwasher, ovens, and storage are all readily accessible, available. maintaining the required open space under benches as well as circulation space. Some of the most spectacular features are in the stylish and functional kitchen fi touts, with stone benchtops and upper cabinets that can be raised or lowered at the push of a butt on to provide simple, easy access for a customer in a wheelchair.
Garry said: “These features all work together to make the cabins more functional for a range of customers. The feedback from our guests, accessibility specialists and respite organisations has been consistent: they all say they are ‘blown away’ with the features, quality, and locations of the cabins. Many also mention that they have not seen features of this standard and fl exibility off ered to guests with additional requirements before.
Sydney magazine editor and blogger Julie Jones, whose Have Wheelchair Will Travel blog catalogues her family’s travels, said that while one-in-fi ve Australians live with a disability, there is “a distinct lack” of truly accessible accommodation. (02) 4954 6210 Services Include: installation of plumbing to sites • Pipe and cable location services • CCTV inspection equipment
Specialising in holiday parks and cabin installations
Terry Keelan Plumbing Pty Ltd was proud to be involved with Lake Macquarie City Council with their recent installation of new cabins for disabled use and also for general use.
The cabins and new sites at Belmont Lakeside, Swansea Lakeside and Blacksmiths Tourist Parks are of the highest standard and quality.
We worked closely with the Park Managers and Council Supervisors to create more open space sites for tents and caravans etc.
The services and infrastructure were upgraded, the new cabins have solar hot water and water tanks and meet all BASIC requirements.
The sites take in magnifi cent lake views in peaceful surroundings.
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Terry Keelan Plumbing is a family owned and operated business established in 1990 and has been in operation for 30 years, providing plumbing solutions to domestic and commercial projects in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions of New South Wales.
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No job is too big or small and we have staff available for emergencies 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. • Plumbing, Drainage, Gas and LP Gas - installations, repairs, maintenance • Specialising in caravans/tourism parks, connection of cabins and • Thermostatic Mixing Valve - testing, installation, certication • Backow Prevention – testing, certication • Truck mounted water jet blasting equipment • Truck mounted gutter vacuum - for roof cleaning and stormwater pits • Hydro Excavation Equipment for small projects www.keelanplumbing.com.au
Julie Jones with son Braeden, husband Mark and daughter Amelia
Garry revealed: “Julie and her family were the first to roadtest our new Belmont Lakeside inclusive tourism cabins and had this to say about their experience: ‘The attention to detail and consideration of the needs of people with a disability shown in the design and features of the Belmont property are the best we’ve seen in a mainstream accommodation provider’s offerings. The fact the accessible accommodation has a view is even more rare'!”
Garry agreed: “It is true that we have taken a big picture approach and not simply installed new cabins in isolation. At Belmont Lakeside, the new pool includes access with a hoist, and a new community pathway has been built to improve access around the park, while Christie’s accessible barbecue has been installed in a new shelter along with wheelchair-friendly picnic tables.
“At Blacksmiths, we have installed new ramped access to the recreation room and the pool precinct as well as installing wheelchair friendly picnic tables and creating flat pedestrian access to sections of the park. Swansea has received a new playground featuring a wheelchair friendly accessible spinner as well as an aqua wheelchair available for guest use at the pool.
“I am extremely proud that we have created a new standard in accommodation for inclusive tourism and have taken a positive step towards providing that facility, not just in a cabin but across the park. Some of the feedback from our customers is so beautiful and heart-warming it will bring tears to your eyes.
“However, I am most proud of our small team, which took to this project with passion and gusto to challenge the status quo.”
Inclusive choices in multiple locations for Lake Mac
The newly refurbished holiday parks all sit on the shores of Lake Macquarie, the largest coastal saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Positioned along 300km of pristine coastline, the parks are surrounded by some of the most beautiful forests in New South Wales and the lake is just 90 minutes north of Sydney, or a short drive to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley Wine Region.
Lake Mac Holiday Parks provide a range of waterfront accommodation, from caravan and camping sites to comfortable villas. There are plenty of facilities to keep the kids busy, too, including heated swimming pools, mini golf, playgrounds, tennis courts, and basketball facilities. Boat launching facilities are also close by and there is a plethora of great local att ractions, including fi shing and swimming hubs, walking tracks, bicycle tracks, and plenty of cafes, restaurants,
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Guests can choose the park that is right for them from the group’s four unique properties: Belmont Lakeside has stunning lake views, Blacksmiths Beachside has a relaxing beachside family vibe, and Swansea Lakeside boasts family fun, or Wangi Point gets guests outside to explore nature.
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Those in the know however, have also discovered, they have a huge range of Indoor Furniture available. It is their ability to serve both indoor and outdoor seating requirements of their clients that allows Nextrend to form great working relationships with the likes of Lake Mac Holiday Parks. In the fi tout of their new Inclusive Villas, Lake Mac Holiday Parks sought lounge seating as well as dining chairs and tables for both in the Villa and on the deck. Commercial grade Neptune & Samba Lounges were selected as their foundational pieces for the lounge area, and Avila indoor/outdoor table base with white Gentas Tops create a link between the indoor and outdoor dining space. Resin ratt an Ibiza Outdoor Armchairs were used on the deck with Avoca Chairs used
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