SEACLIFF will become the state’s first wheelchair accessible beach after a successful crowd-funding campaign and a large donation from a local Rotary club.

A new $10,000 portable rubber ramp will stretch from the cement walkway at the foreshore to the hard sand at the water’s edge near Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club.

It will allow people using wheelchairs or walking frames to reach the sea without assistance.

State Liberal Bright MP David Speirs ordered the ramp last Wednesday and expects it to be in place by Australia Day.

Mr Speirs raised $2730 through online donations, since October.

Another $1000 is coming from Holdfast Bay Council and $500 from the Lions Club of Hallett Cove and Districts.

But the largest donation of $5000 has come from the Rotary Club of Brighton.

It closed in June but still had money in the bank to distribute to charity.

Former club secretary Alison Rogers said the beach ramp “fit perfectly with how we should distribute our funds”.

Today is International Day of People with Disability - Australia and I took the opportunity to make a speech in... Posted by David Speirs MP on Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club will roll the ramp out each day it is in use, although the club is still to work out exactly which days this will be.

Club president Andrew Chandler said it would most likely be on days lifesavers patrol the beach between November and April.

He said the club was “over the moon” to hear the funding goal had been reached so quickly.

“I think it will be absolutely wonderful for the community once this happens,” Mr Chandler said.

Seacliff Park resident Peter Rowland and his son Charlie, 17, enjoy going to the beach but Charlie cannot get onto the sand in his electric wheelchair.

Mr Rowland said they were excited about trying out the ramp.

“He’s on his computer 24/7 but we like to get him out of the house,” Mr Rowland said.

“He’ll be able to get on the beach with his dog.”

Maria Catanzariti, 49, of Mitchell Park, has spinal muscular atrophy and is looking forward to going down the ramp.

She was able to touch the water at Wallaroo thanks to a boat ramp but said she would like to do the same in a more dignified way at Seacliff.

“It’s relaxing – it’s just like what everyone else does,” Ms Catanzariti said.

Businesses donating funds included EnerG+ Personal Training and SolarSuit.

Donations to bring the total up to exactly $10,000 can still be made at mycause.com.au/page/113797/beach-for-all

What do you think of the plans for the ramp – will it impact on you or your family? Leave your comment below.