By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A DISABILITY-access consultant who approved a recent redesign of central Dandenong’s streetscape has rejected criticism from disabled pedestrians.
Murray Mountain, principal of Access Design Solutions, endorsed the Lonsdale Street design on behalf of developer Places Victoria but said he was not requested to do a final inspection.
“What I signed off on was fine. As to what was built, I cannot comment on,” Mr Mountain said.
Over the past year, disabled pedestrians have complained to Greater Dandenong Council about various trouble spots: jolting cobblestone pavers and a lack of kerbside ramps in car parking bays, steep kerbside ramps, and a hazardous bus thoroughfare on Langhorne-Lonsdale streets. The council has refused to make alterations.
Mr Mountain said the design complied with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Disability Resources Centre manager Frank Hall-Bentick said this showed a failing in the standards. A compliant design was not necessarily “accessible to everyone” but had met “the minimum level”, he said.
At the Langhorne Street bus thoroughfare, there is a sign ‘Pedestrians caution buses’ but no traffic or pedestrian signals. The best warning for visually-impaired pedestrians was ground tactiles that covered just a quarter of the footpath’s width.
Mr Mountain said the tactile indicators – even with partial coverage – were sufficient warning.
“A lot of people with disabilities are trained to make their way around a built-up environment.” Mr Mountain said the standards allowed for partial tactile coverage because “people in wheelchairs don’t like going over tactiles”.
He defended the use of cobblestone pavers that disability advocate Sharon Harris had told the Weekly jarred her body as she travelled in her wheelchair.
Mr Mountain said the pavers could be used in car parking bays and other areas that weren’t thoroughfares for pedestrians.
The gaps between pavers met Australian Standards for depth and width.
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