By Jodie Symonds
LOCATIONS around Warburton with limited access for disabled people may be a thing of the past, with the help of a new motorised wheelchair.
The TrailRider is a cross between a ricksaw and a wheelchair and allows those with a disability to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yarra Ranges – without limitations.
Yarra Ranges Council and Parks Victoria purchased the first TrailRider earlier this year to be used in the Dandenong Ranges area, once picked up from Grant’s Picnic Ground in Sherbrooke.
Another TrailRider, recently purchased by Yarra Ranges Council and Parks Victoria, will available in Warburton, providing better access to the picturesque Yarra Ranges National Park.
With the help of the TrailRider, residents will be able to explore the beautiful parks and trails throughout the Upper Yarra region.
According to Yarra Ranges Council, the wheelchair has the ability to handle tough terrain, allowing residents to experience steeper and longer trails.
Yarra Ranges Council Disability Advisory Committee member Cliff Wise said he felt secure and comfortable in the chair.
“It’s very well balanced and I feel safe in it,” Mr Wise said.
“It’s stable and quite giving going across unstable areas.”
The all-terrain wheelchair can be booked at Warburton Water Wheel on (03) 5966 9600 and must be picked up at Warburton Holiday Park.
For more information, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au
