News & Information

Improving access for all

Beach access will always be a problem. Try climbing this in a wheel chair.

1 December 2004

Surf Coast Shire has released an access plan which it says will have wide-ranging benefit for all sectors of the community.

This includes parents with pushers, grandmas with trolleys or walking frames, the fellow who breaks his leg playing footy or the person delivering goods to businesses.

The plan is now on public exhibition as part of the Shire's ongoing campaign to enhance community entrée to all local services and facilities, especially for aged, people with disabilities and families using prams.

Access is not just an issue for a few people, it is an issue for all of us - good access is good for business and good for community well-being.

The council is urging people to respond to the Community Access and Inclusion Action Plan 2004 - 2007, on exhibition until December 6 at the Shire offices in Grossmans Road, Torquay, or via the internet @ www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au (look under "Publications & Documents" - "On Exhibition")

The council has thanked the many community-minded groups, such as the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, Torquay Rotary, Surfing Victoria, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire and Geelong Otway Tourism, for their commitment to improving public access to local services and facilities.

Other initiatives taking place under the campaign to enhance access for people of all abilities who live, work or visit the Shire include:

• Access audits of major events across the Shire including the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event, working in partnership with Surfing Victoria.
• Access audits of beaches in Torquay and Lorne, to provide accessible toilets, parking and pathways and effective signage. This initiative is supported by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and Torquay Rotary.
• Creation of an access booklet providing information and access maps on Shire-wide services/facilities such as accommodation houses, restaurants, beaches and shopping centres. The accessible tourism project, proposed for completion by the 2006 Commonwealth Games, is driven by the Surf Coast Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire and Geelong Otway Tourism. The initial pilot project targets Geelong, Anglesea and Colac.
• Captioning of museum videos at Surfworld Museum and local visitor information centres to assist people with a hearing impairment and to improve training and customer services in preparation for the Deaflympics, to be held in Ballarat in 2005.
• Introducing the State-funded Companion Card concept for all council facilities and events.

Source: Surf Coast Shire media release