THE Weekly asked Red Gum Ward candidates what they would do about disability access complaints in central Dandenong. Four candidates responded.
DALIBOR SAULA
1. Is there a problem with disabled access in central Dandenong? If so, describe your concerns.
Disabled residents should be free to move around Dandenong as they please – without the concerns that their wheel might be stuck or that their moving chair might flip on top of them.
2. What is your solution?
Put together a working group that identifies spots for improvement. even though it has been developed recently it can still be re-worked to help the disabled. I.e. fixing the side of the kerb to be more wheelchair friendly.
3. Do you believe there are any other challenges, eg parking, traffic movement? If so, what are the solutions?
Dandenong East – Requires substantial work done to prevent the area from getting flooded. That is residents alongside the Dandenong Creek – (David st etc). Dandenong West – requires better pedestrian crossings for children. Dandenong North needs to be revamped in many areas. Also traffic and safety on roads needs to be revisited as there is an ever increasing growing population.
MATTHEW KIRWIN
1. Is there a problem with disabled access in central Dandenong? If so, describe your concerns.
Yes – because disabled people themselves have said so. They have reported that the cobblestone pavers jar their bodies when their wheelchairs go over them, that there is a lack of kerbside ramps in parking bays, that what ramps there are are too steep and that the thoroughfare in Langhorne and Lonsdale streets is hazardous. The council needs to listen to what disabled people themselves say – not hide behind experts and standards.
2. What is your solution?
Grind down or remove the pavers. Install new and less steep kerbside ramps. Redesign or remove the bus thoroughfare. Putting the bus thoroughfare in Langhorne St was a bad idea – it has caused a lot of traffic problems for everyone. And throughout consult the disabled people affected.
3. Do you believe there are any other challenges, eg parking, traffic movement? If so, what are the solutions?
Yes. If you want to increase people shopping in Lonsdale St you need to increase parking instead of reducing like they did. The area needs a new secure free multi-level carpark accessible by car from Thomas St and leading out by foot into Lonsdale and/or Walker streets. When the new council and community complex and new square are finished the lack of parking is only going to get worse.
The priority for traffic movement should be making it easy to get around Dandenong. All right-hand turns need to be restored.
You can’t revitalise Dandenong if you make driving around and parking in Dandenong too difficult so people avoid it – which they are doing now.
MURUGAN NAGARAJAN
1. Is there a problem with disabled access in central Dandenong? If so, describe your concerns.
Yes, need is growing.
2. What is your solution?
In planning stage itself this issues will be fixed, now re doing, who will pay? At least in future they must address the need while planning, not for fancy spending.
3. Do you believe there are any other challenges, eg parking, traffic movement? If so, what are the solutions?
Parking issue in Lonsdale Street, to attract new business, traffic in David Street, Herbert Street school crossing, Menzies Avenue shopping car parking and safety issue.
Knowledgeable council will decide on good solutions.
JOHN GULZARI
1. Is there a problem with disabled access in central Dandenong? If so, describe your concerns.
Council has done such a poor job of spending the $290m on Central Dandenong revitalisation. It hasn’t really taken into account accessibility issue, and to make footpath etc around the central Dandenong more user friendly for disable people.
2. What is your solution?
More funds to be spend to improve the already revitalised area of Cental Dandenong rather then spending the more money on council office itself.
3. Do you believe there are any other challenges, eg parking, traffic movement? If so, what are the solutions?
The flow of traffic in central Dandenong is terrible, local residence and local traders should have been listen to and make Central Dandenong more user friendly for motorists. Thus improving trade and business to support small businesses. Parking are also an issue in cental Dandenong.
