Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

Making local communities more accessible for people with disability

Local governments across Australia will share in $5 million from the Gillard Government to improve the accessibility of public facilities for people with disability in their communities.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, today announced 67 local councils will receive grants of up to $100,000 under the Australian Government’s Accessible Communities initiative.

Senator McLucas said the Government was delivering on its election commitment to provide more support for people within their community.

“We are working hard to break down the obstacles faced by people with a disability,” Senator McLucas said.

“The Accessible Communities program delivers practical support for local councils to ensure local people with disability, their families, friends and carers can get involved in community life.

“I expect to see a lot of new access ramps and paths to community buildings, fully accessible playgrounds with specialised equipment for children with disability to enjoy, better access and specialised mobility equipment at public swimming pools and fully accessible public toilets across the country.”

Senator McLucas congratulated all of the successful local councils.

“It’s great to see local councils putting their hands up and wanting to do more to support people with disability in their communities,” Senator McLucas said.

“Local councils will match the Government dollar for dollar to deliver these projects over the next year.”

The Gillard Government wants to ensure people with disability have the same opportunities as other Australians.

We’ve introduced new building access standards to ensure all new and upgraded public buildings in Australia are accessible to people with a disability.

In addition, the Gillard Government is providing digital playback devices in public libraries around the country, improving cinema access for people with hearing and vision impairment and encouraging the adoption of Universal Housing Design principles.

Accessible Communities is part of an $11 million accessibility package to support the National Disability Strategy.

ACT Local Government Description of Project $
Department of Territory and Municipal Services Accessible Play Space – Black Mt Peninsula 100,000.00
NSW Local Government Description of Project $
The Council of the City of Sydney Public Toilet Accessibility Upgrades 86,500.00
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Wauchope All Abilities Community Hub 100,000.00
Gosford City Council Making our Community Facilities Accessible 100,000.00
Ashfield Municipal Council Playground & Accessible Pathways 100,000.00
Gosford City Council Provision of Equitable Access to Captain Cook Lookout 100,000.00
Willoughby City Council Naremburn Park Continuous Path of Travel 70,000.00
Snowy River Shire Council Disabled Access for Berridale Swimming Pool 1,250.00
Great Lakes Shire Council Accessibility at the Palms 19,224.50
Wentworth Shire Council Access for all at the Wentworth Town Hall 56,603.77
Auburn City Council Auburn Town Hall Acc. Stage Area 20,000.00
Tweed Shire Council, NSW Murwillumbah Access and Inclusion in Murwillumbah 61,600.00
Randwick City Council South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club 100,000.00
Leichhardt Municipal Council Pioneer Memorial Park – Access Ramp 35,000.00
Wagga Wagga City Council Mobile Library Disabled & Mobility Access 30,000.00
Mid-Western Regional Council Mudgee Town Hall building 100,000.00
Lane Cove Council New Lift for Pool 100,000.00
Newcastle City Council Healthy Accessible Newcastle – Stockton 75,000.00
Upper Hunter Shire Council Scone Upper Hunter Resting Places 59,800.00
Willoughby City Council Willoughby Park 40,203.00
Council of the City of Broken Hill Accessible Play Park 100,000.00
Clarence Valley Council Grafton Lower Clarence Beach Access 43,500.00
Lismore City Council Nesbitt Park Project 50,000.00
Northern Territory Local Government Description of Project $
Alice Springs Town Council Alice Springs Aquatic & Leisure Centre 13,000.00
Darwin City Council Lake Alexander Regional Playground 25,000.00
Katherine Town Council Ablution Facilities for Disabled in Ryan Park 100,000.00
Queensland Local Government Description of Project $
Gold Coast City Council Roughton Park 100,000.00
Gold Coast City Council Lakeside Disability Access 100,000.00
Tablelands Regional Council Mareeba PCYC Disabled Toilet Access 23,000.00
Fraser Coast Regional Council Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre Aqua Therapy Access 4,926.00
Brisbane City Council Jindalee Swimming Pool 100,000.00
Sunshine Coast Regional Council Caloundra Sunshine Coast Aquatic Centre 90,000.00
Etheridge Shire Council Proposed Disabled Access and Facilities Installations 64,675.00
Barcaldine Regional Council Accessible Amenities 20,000.00
Rockhampton Regional Council Recreational Playground Shade Structure 1,589.50
Fraser Coast Regional Council Ramps at Munna Creek Hall and Howard Public Museum 34,987.00
Central Highlands Regional Council Blackwater Library and Community Building Accessibility Project 50,000.00
Mackay Regional Council Mackay Convention Centre Automatic Doors 75,000.00
Rockhampton Regional Council Southside Memorial Pool Accessibility Program 37,800.00
Goondiwindi Regional Council Texas Memorial Hall 12,500.00
Cairns Regional Council Growing Inclusive Communities within Cairns 32,200.00
Blackall – Tambo Regional Council Tambo Multipurpose Centre Southern Cross Courtyard 70,725.00
Goondiwindi Regional Council Inglewood Library 8,000.00
Flinders Shire Council Hughenden Flinders Shire Public Library 26,475.00
Cook Shire Council Upgrade Cooktown Kerb Ramp Path 100,000.00
Balonne Shire Council Hebel Town Hall Access Ramp Project 32,928.00
Barcaldine Regional Council Accessible Pathways 20,250.00
South Australia Local Government Description of Project $
City of Playford Unisex Accessible Toilets and Change Facilities 100,000.00
Corporation of the City of Unley Unley Swimming Centre 42,500.00
District Council of Grant Port MacDonnell Community Complex Accessibility Project 24,050.00
The Corporation of the City of Adelaide Bonython Park Activity Hub 100,000.00
The Corporation of the City of Norwood, Payneham & St. Peters The Parade Streetscape Accessibility 80,000.00
City of Tea Tree Gully Modbury Amenities Addition at the Former Old Council Chambers 100,000.00
City Of Prospect Easy Access Toilet Suite 14,250.00
Tasmania Local Government Description of Project $
Burnie City Council Upgrade to Burnie Arts and Function Centre 100,000.00
Launceston City Council St Leonards Sports Centre Accessibility 50,000.00
Glenorchy City Council Glenorchy Access Improvements to KGV Sporting Arena 99,412.16
Victoria Local Government Description of Project $
Macedon Ranges Shire Council Kyneton Macedon Ranges Access for All 100,000.00
Golden Plains Shire Council Accessible Toilets Upgrade Project 27,000.00
Hume City Council Hume Disability Action Plan – Capital Works- Community Access 100,000.00
Yarra City Council (YCC) Universal Access for the Abbotsford Convent Annexe Project 75,000.00
Whittlesea City Council Access PRACC (Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre) 100,000.00
City of Greater Dandenong More than Just a Pool – Access for All 100,000.00
Boroondara City Council Hawthorn Community 100,000.00
Glenelg Shire Council Casterton Town Hall Disability Access Lift (CTHDAL) 66,500.00
Melton Shire Council CC Tylors Hill Neighbourhood Playspace project 100,000.00
Kingston City Council Cheltenham Mentone Racecourse Reserve 100,000.00
Stonnington City Council Prahan Aquatic Centre Hoist project 22,500.00
Banyule City Council Banyule Accessibility Upgrades 100,000.00
Stonnington City Council Pheonix Park Community Centre Lift Project 100,000.00
Western Australia Local Government Description of Project $
City of Wanneroo Kingsway Regional Stadium 84,171.00
City of Bunbury Big Swamp Accessible Playground 100,000.00
Town of Mosman Park Alf Adams Pavillion Accessibility Project 35937.50
City of Wanneroo Opportunity Playspace 82,441.00
City of Joondalup Outdoor Lift at Jondalup Library 66,000.00
Shire of Mundaring Mundaring Hall Access Upgrade Project 100,000.00