A plan detailing how the City of Greater Geelong will create a more accessible inclusive and welcoming city has received Council support.

Council last night adopted the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28 a plan that supports the full participation of people with disability in Greater Geelong.

The City is committed to the fair participation and inclusion of all and with more than 20 per cent of people in the Geelong region living with a disability it is vital that the City reduces and removes barriers.

During community engagement the City received 226 community responses which helped develop the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28.

The community identified barriers faced by people with disability which were sorted into six priorities: physical access inclusion and participation employment lived experience engagement communication and respect and understanding.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28 addresses the six community priorities under four pillars: access inclusion employment and community attitudes. Each pillar details outcomes strategies and actions to reflect these priorities.

Some of the actions in the plan include:

• increased accessible design
• construction of the new Rippleside Inclusive Playspace
• improved beach accessibility for people with disability at high-use City-managed beaches
• sensory Quiet Time at Leisurelink and other aquatic centres
• a community event for the International Day of People with Disability.

The Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee provided advice and was involved in the development of the plan.

The committee currently includes councillor Anthony Aitken along with nine external members representing the community.

During community feedback from 29 May to 2 July the majority of respondents agreed that the draft plan reflected the priorities for disability access and inclusion in Greater Geelong with no respondents unhappy with the plan.

Forty-one per cent of respondents identified as a person with disability and a further 29 per cent were carers or family members of a person with disability.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28 was developed between June 2023 and June 2024 and incorporated this feedback.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024–2028 is the City’s sixth disability access plan.

Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan

The new action plan aims to build on the success of the previous plans.

We have made progress in improving the accessibility of buildings and footpaths as well as establishing more inclusive services but there is always more to do.

This new plan will help Council create a city that is accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.

Deputy Mayor and Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee chair Anthony Aitken

The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28 demonstrates community collaboration.

We are proud of the contributions the committee has made to the development of this plan.

We hope that the actions taken over the next four years will see all people with disability feel welcome and take part in their community.