By CASEY NEILL
WHEELCHAIRS filled the gallery at Monday night’s council meeting as councillors resolved to fix a Noble Park footpath built for elderly residents that was too steep for them to use.
They agreed to replace the sloping footpath along Princes Highway, near Racecourse Road, after a report from access consultancy Architecture and Access found the gradient did not satisfy Australian Standards for disability access.
Councillor Maria Sampey raised the issue last month saying the council had built the $39,251 path at the request of Davall Lodge Nursing Home residents, but it was too steep for people with limited mobility to use because of a man-made mound beneath it.
She said wheeling a chair uphill and down the other side was difficult and dangerous.
“I pinched a nerve in my back doing that,” she said.
The Architecture and Access report recommended demolishing 40 metres of the path, removing part of the mound and installing a new footpath, which would cost about $13,800.
“If this had been built on private land, there would have to be hand rails and rests installed because of the very, very steep gradient,” Cr Peter Brown said.
“The present footpath fails to meet the public need.
“We haven’t done justice to the people who are being encouraged to use it. The people who need it most are able to use it least.”
The report also suggested an alternative route linking with footpaths on Racecourse Road, which would cost about $6380.
Councillors resolved to fix the current path and refer the additional path for consideration in its mid-year budget review.
The council also agreed to several other report recommendations, including installing three park benches and outside Darvall Lodge repairing broken pit covers identified as a tripping hazard.
“If we don’t fix it, it’s symbolic of how this council regards disabled people,” Cr O’Reilly said.
Cr John Kelly slammed comments from Cr Sampey that some of her colleagues didn’t support the disabled.
“I think it’s terrible the way she’s putting a wedge between us,” he said.
His assertion that he did support disabled community members was met with an “I know” from a wheelchair-bound member of the gallery.
Later in the meeting, Cr Matthew Kirwan introduced a notice of motion for a report on addressing concerns from the Disability Resources Centre, members of its Disability Action Southeast Group and the wider community.
He said the Revitalising Central Dandenong project met minimum disability-access standards but the needs of people with disabilities had not been met.
Areas of concern include cobblestones, kerb ramps and disabled parking bays.
Council officers will prepare a report by the 23 September meeting, including costs to address the issues.
