Submissions

To: Dunedin City Council
Date: October 2024

Purpose

This submission’s primary purpose is to provide feedback focused on enhancing accessibility across the Town Belt Reserve area, ensuring that all reserves are open and equitably available to everyone, particularly disabled people. DPA aims to clarify language, advocate for universal design standards, and ensure disabled people are fully involved in discussions on accessibility.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA recognizes the value that reserves have for both people and the environment. DPA is pleased that the DCC’s Reserves Management General Policy acknowledges access for disabled people to amenities like toilets and mobility parks. DPA also welcomes the draft plan’s statement about looking for opportunities to improve access for "[people with] all levels of mobility" to enable enjoyment and participation in recreational activities. DPA also recommends changing the term "accessibility parking" to "mobility parking" to ensure that the correct terminology is used. While acknowledging that not all walking tracks can be made fully accessible, DPA believes the DCC should still make every effort to achieve reasonable accommodation by making tracks at least partially accessible.
 
Key Recommendation:

DPA recommends that disabled people and disability organisations must be fully involved in all discussions concerning the accessibility of the council's reserves.
 
Supporting Statement 1:

DPA recognises disabled people as experts on their own lives. This expertise is crucial for informing decisions and policies in ensuring that accessibility improvements genuinely meet the needs of disabled people.
 
Supporting Statement 2:

It is explicitly noted that disabled people and disability organisations should be involved in discussions around improving accessibility in specific locations mentioned in the draft plan, such as the Ravensbourne Walkway and Cycleway, and Wellers Park, as well as other areas around the reserve.