By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
AN independent audit has contradicted Greater Dandenong Council’s claim that a footpath climbing an artificial mound in Noble Park meets disability access standards.
As first reported in the Journal, Cr Maria Sampey had complained the $39,251 Princes Highway footpath — particularly over the council-built mound near Racecourse Road — was inaccessible.
The audit by Architecture & Access found a litany of flaws and hazards along the footpath. One was that the mound section was steeper than Australian Standards for disability access and should be regraded at a cost of about $15,000.
Last Monday, councillors voted in favour of demolishing the mound, rather than a $6380 option to provide an alternative footpath link.
Cr Sampey said the latter, recommended in a council officer’s report, was “an insult”.
“We should never be put in a position ever again to fight so someone in a wheelchair should be able to use our footpaths,” she said.
Cr Peter Brown, who moved last week’s successful motion, said the audit showed the council “hadn’t done justice” to the people using the footpath.
The footpath was built primarily for Darvall Lodge high-care nursing home residents to visit Sandown Park Hotel.
“For the disadvantaged, the disabled — the ones who need it most are the ones who can use it the least,” Cr Brown said.
Councillors also voted for another $13,000-plus of improvements such as three seating benches along the path, and to fix further hazards.
The audit also found the sloping ground to the sides of the footpath’s mound was a hazard to pedestrians straying from the path.
The council will follow a recommendation for an extra 60 centimetres of levelled land on each side of the path.
