Equal Access Strategy Review

Background Information

History

In 1995 Hobart City Council made a commitment to actively respond to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This resulted in the establishment of the DDA Advisory Group and the dedication of Council officer hours to coordinate Council’s activities in relation access issues.

In January 1998, following extensive consultation with people in the community with a disability, Council approved and lodged with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) the Hobart City Council DDA Action Plan 1998. This plan included an Access Policy; an outline of Council’s consultative process through an Access Advisory Committee; plans to carry out auditing and staff awareness training; and detailed actions to improve access in Council buildings, parks and streetscapes.

By April 2001 a complete review of the Action Plan indicated that almost all actions had been completed or were scheduled for work in the following year, so a proposal to revise the Action Plan and develop an Equal Access Strategy was put to the Access Advisory Committee. The Committee agreed to the proposal and HREOC was advised of Council’s intention.

In February 2002, a sub-committee of the Access Advisory Committee - the DDA Action Plan Review Working Group - was established. In 2003 the extensive review was complete and the Equal Access Strategy was approved by Council in 2004.

It is now time to review that strategy.

Achievements

In addition to the initiatives noted on the previous page, some of the significant achievements of Council and the Access Advisory Committee since 1996 include:

  • Creation of the Streetscape Master Plan
  • Free wheelchair service at the Argyle Street Carpark and Salamanca Market
  • Redevelopment of the Hobart Mobility Map
  • Projects to celebrate International Day of People with a DisAbility, including Access Challenges, theatre skills and performance development – Pod and Voyages – and other community development activities
  • Annual budget provisions specifically for access improvements to streetscape, parks and playgrounds
  • Input into planning and development for events such as the Hobart Christmas Pageant, Carols By The Bay and The Taste Festival
  • Input into planning for Council works and upgrades for buildings
  • Staff awareness training
  • Community support including Community Grants; advice and support to community organisation activities, such as Access Challenges and the development of training programs

Key Issues

From Council’s experience, the current key access issues include:

  • Access to buildings
  • Access to public spaces, including streetscapes, parks and playgrounds
  • Access to events
  • Transport and parking
  • Participation in community activities
  • Opportunities for employment

Current Resources

Council’s equal access resource for 2008/09 is:

Dedicated Community Development Officer hours

$25,626.00

Community Projects

$2,000.00

DDA Initiatives

$6,000.00

General Operating Costs

$3,530.00

Parks & Playgrounds upgrades

$25,000.00

Streetscape upgrades

$20,000.00

New asset – 50 & Better Centre lift

$110,000.00

New asset – Town Hall stage access

$22,000.00

New asset – Mount Stuart Hall access toilet & ramp

$25,000.00

New asset – Carnegie Gallery lift

$22,000.00

 

$239,156.00

Council’s whole-of-organisation commitment also includes:

Automatic installation of kerb ramps in any new or upgraded streetscapes (costs included in project budget).

Officers from several Council divisions consider access issues as part of their daily work participate on the Access Advisory Committee and provide advice in relation to access issues.  (approx. 600 officer hours)

Provision of assistive technology equipment including TTY telephone & Clearview Spectrum CCTV reader, Hearing Loop at the Customer Service Centre, and a Portable FM Hearing System for Council Events. (approximate value is $11,000)

You can access the Survey here