Inclusivity and accessibility were key to the City of Bunbury council’s decision to throw its support behind the Most Accessible Regional City in Australia project.
The city’s Disability and Access Inclusion Committee recommended the Final MARCIA Research Report - May 2018 to council for a vote.
The project had been carried out by ECU PhD student Adam Johnson, through a partnership between the city and Edith Cowan University.
At the meeting on Tuesday, June 26, Mr Johnson said the project had looked into the accessibility of Bunbury for citizens with disability.
“The report is the culmination of 12 months of research looking into what is helping and hindering Bunbury in becoming to most accessible regional city in Australia,” he said.
“We found a common theme, that it needs to be done right in the design stage.
“In the design stage, we can eliminate the disabling affects of impairment by designing for all.”
Mr Johnson said they had consulted with 30 City of Bunbury staff members involved in designing facilities or approving design works.
The report recommended training staff and contractors in inclusive design and removing anything that would hinder new design practices.
The PhD student was joined by his research partners, Paul D’Vorak and Kathryn Hewitt, during his presentation to council.
Council voted in favour of the Final MARCIA Research Report.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the report has been essential to the city’s decision-making process.
“His work here has been complementary to his research in accessibility for our city,” he said.
“Members of Mr Johnson’s research project had some form of disability which had impacted on their access.
“He had a really good group of people helping him and he came up with recommendations.”
Mr Brennan praised Mr Johnson and ECU for developing the project.
“We’re currently looking at public and private facilities that could be considered for accessibility,” he said.
“We enjoy the partnership with ECU, not only in that area but in other areas. We work in tandem with ECU.”
The Mayor said many CBD businesses, along with the South West Sports Centre, have made tremendous strides in retro-fitting spaces.
The MARCIA project first began in 2014 through a workshop held by the city’s Community Access Committee.
In 2015, the city partnered with ECU to develop a PhD detailing how to develop greater accessibility within public areas and more inclusion initiatives for a more disability-friendly environment.
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