By Oliver Winn
A renewed version of Yarra Ranges Council’s Disability Action Plan (DAP) will undertake another four weeks of community consultation in March before being finalised for the 2025-2029 period.
The council will consult members of the community, stakeholders and the Disability Advisory Committee using e-newsletters, radio, social media and in-person interviews.
“I go back a long way with the council and council hasn’t always taken a lot of interest in people with a disability,” Cr Len Cox said.
With the establishment of the Disability Advisory Committee 12 years ago, Cr Cox said the council’s approach to disability has “improved enormously”.
“They [the Disability Advisory Committee] established the first Disability Action Plan, which ran out in 2023, and this is the one to replace it.”
The motion to have the DAP undergo another four weeks of consultation was carried unanimously.
The draft DAP aims to improve access to council information, services and facilities while eliminating barriers preventing inclusion across council as a whole.
To improve access to information, the council will begin disability awareness campaigns and mandatory disability awareness training for staff.
Creating a more walkable Yarra Ranges through accessible footpaths is just one of many initiatives which will fulfil the council’s pledge for more inclusive infrastructure.
Some key areas highlighted by previous community feedback included more inclusive emergency management, accessible public transport and accessible housing affordability.
The Yarra Ranges has a higher rate of disability at 26 per cent when compared to the rest of Victoria, which sits at 19 per cent.
Deputy Mayor Cr Richard Higgins said the range of difficulties people living with disabilities face is “quite immense”.
“I look forward to everybody that may be impacted by a disability to have a look at the document and research it to let us know if we’ve missed anything, because it’s really important we get it right,” Cr Higgins said.
