By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
PEOPLE with a disability and their advocates’ fervent wishes for a greater say at Greater Dandenong Council may come true at tonight’s council meeting.
Councillors are set to vote on setting up a disability community reference group and a disability advisory committee.
The groups would comprise community members, advocates, experts, councillors and council officers.
Each group would meet at least four times a year and directly report to the council on issues including disability policy and the council’s disability action plan.
Disability Resources Centre advocate Katrina Newman said in reaching this stage, the group had its “first proactive dialogue” with the council since the DRC outreach service opened in Dandenong in 2004.
“It’s a little step in the right direction.
“We have also been encouraged to see that a disability reference group on council is being reconsidered as it will allow for a voice for more than 20 per cent of the population of the City of Greater Dandenong that are people with disability.”
Sharon Harris and Peter Fletcher, who have unsuccessfully fought for improved disability access in Dandenong in the Journal in recent years, said they were willing to join the reference group.
Last week, they met at a zebra crossing with flashing lights on Foster Street opposite the railway station.
They fear pedestrians could be struck by an unobservant driver in the 60 km/h zone.
The council has stated it will monitor the crossing and “explore” reducing the speed limit to 40 km/h, rather than installing $100,000 pedestrian-operated lights which would “downgrade pedestrian priority”.
Ms Harris said she’d fight for the removal of Lonsdale Street’s cobblestone pavers, which jolt her wheelchair, and for disabled taxi spaces closer to Dandenong railway station.
“I just hope the group won’t be tokenistic but will have a real say.”
Peter Fletcher said he’d continue to fight for a pedestrian crossing at a bus thoroughfare at the corner of Langhorne and Lonsdale streets.
He, as well as other visually-impaired people, can’t see the sign warning pedestrian to look out for buses.
The council has stated that no pedestrians had been injured at the crossing since 2009 according to VicRoads statistics but will monitor the intersection.
Cr Matthew Kirwan said he hoped the proposed group would allow people with a disability and advocates to have a greater say in the design of major projects.
“What I want is not just the group commenting on services but on the planning process.”
Cr Kirwan was disappointed by the council’s progress on 19 to-do items in Dandenong identified by the DRC.
“I am happy that ramps have been installed on McCrae Street for taxis, that extra bays have been installed on Langhorne Street and that installation of tactile indicators have been installed on Robinson Street.
“I think there could have been immediate action recommended on installing extra kerb ramps in Lonsdale Street and a communication campaign with shop owners on approving accessibility in shops.
“There could have been immediate steps planned for installing pedestrian-operated signals across from the Dandenong railway station and installing pedestrian signals at the intersection of Langhorne and Lonsdale streets.”
