By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG’S redeveloped streets remain imposing for wheelchair users despite 12months of wrangling with authorities, disability advocates say.
Disability Resources Centre representatives have fought for the removal of the 16-month-old cobblestone parking bays in Lonsdale Street that unsettle people in wheelchairs and walkers.
They have also argued for kerbside access ramps every 45 metres in the parking bays.
At present there is one ramp on the Scott Street side of the western bay, near the disabled spaces. It services a 200-metre parking area.
DRC representative Sharon Harris, who finds some of the new kerbside ramps too steep, says central Dandenong has become a turn-off.
See Cameron Lucadou-Wells and Sharon Harris try to negotiate the area, below.
“I want to shop in my own community – but it’s a nightmare. It’s like being at war with the infrastructure.”
She has taken a spill while ascending a Thomas Street kerbside ramp and once fell in front of a bus, which had to slam its brakes to avoid her. She often needs assistance to climb the roadside ramps.
DRC chairman Frank Hall-Bentick said he expected such a recent urban design to have been more disability-friendly.
“We have certainly tried to alert the council of various hazards, such as the cobblestones being extremely uncomfortable and a hazard, but they overruled us.”
A spokesman for Places Victoria – the redevelopment authority – didn’t say what prior consultation was done with disability groups.
He said the Lonsdale Street redevelopment, completed in April 2011, was “independently verified as complying with the Disability Discrimination Act”.
He said the location, size and spacing of the disabled car parking was designed to meet the Road Management Act, VicRoads and council standards.
The council’s community care manager Mary Rydberg said the access provided “meets current disability requirements”.
She said the council and Places Victoria conducted “extensive consultation” on the issue.
“The council is happy to speak to residents who have specific concerns about access and will investigate these issues on a case-by-case basis.”
