City of Greater Geraldton endorses five-year access and inclusion plan to remove barriers within community

The City of Greater Geraldton has given the nod to a five-year inclusion plan aimed at ensuring equal access for everyone throughout the city. The plan was based on seven outcomes and on 30 strategies to implement them. Of the strategies, the city aims to implement 13 of them in the 2024-25 financial year. The Access and Inclusion Plan was to ensure the city was inclusive to the wider community, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, health, or circumstance. Mayor Jerry Clune said making the city a place for all people was front of mind. “Committing to continually improving access to information, providing high-quality services, facilities, programs and events for people with disability remains a top priority for us,” he said. “Over the past five years the city has improved existing infrastructure, built new facilities and introduced new initiatives which make our city more inclusive and welcoming. “Key achievements in this space include the Passport to Employment Program for Years 11 and 12 students with disability, the construction of an 18m access ramp at the Aquarena, introduction of communication boards at playgrounds for those who identify as nonverbal and providing a space for Dance Days Disco for people with disability to socialise.” The plan involved community consultation with a number of people on what they wanted to see going forward. Better access for all people at various city events, buildings and services are among the highlights of the outcomes in the inclusion plan. According to the city, projects include 26km of new footpaths with accessible ramps, accessible designs for the Foreshore Youth Precinct and Maitland Park Precinct Transport Hub and a number of new toilet blocks across Greater Geraldton. Accessible parking is also set to be included for AMC Park. The city said it would continue with projects already in place, such as Passport to Employment which assists Year 11 and 12 students with disability. It will also continue to provide accessibility for events run by the city including Christmas on the Terrace and Australia Day, as well as special events for people with disability including the All Ability Day and the Geraldton Disability Expo. The city will launch the plan at the Geraldton Disability Expo on Thursday, July 18, at the QEII Community Centre.