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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Max McKinney

Council plan aims to create an 'equitable and inclusive city'

A ramp at the Merewether Ocean Baths.

Newcastle council has called for feedback on a draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan, a guiding document the lord mayor says will help ensure "we are an equitable and inclusive city".

The document, which is on exhibition until January 10, builds on an inaugural plan council adopted in 2016.

Celebrating that plan's implementation on Friday - International Day of People with Disability - lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said 55 of 57 actions from the document had been "significantly progressed or completed" over the past four years.

Cr Nelmes said an Access Inclusion Advisory Committee had "been instrumental on the delivery" of the first document and helped craft the proposed new version.

"They have made a huge difference," she said.

"They've advised on the best options for inclusion on projects like the Newcastle Ocean Baths and Brickworks Park in Wallsend.

"They've also worked tirelessly over the last 12 months on this draft plan that is now on exhibition."

The draft plan sets out 35 new actions to help make both the city and council more inclusive.

Cr Nelmes and members of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee on Friday.

"That is looking at how every facet of what council does, and the broader community, is inclusive," Cr Nelmes said.

"Whether that's the construction of new parks and playgrounds, how we deliver library services or how we communicate with the community. It's also simple things around kerb-ramps and footpaths, and the width between outdoor dining and the building line."

Cr Nelmes said the draft plan would also allow the council to better consider "how to cater for an ageing population" and "create an age-friendly city".

"When you look at our demographics, although there is a youthful curve due to being a university city, we also have to acknowledge our population is ageing and our public open spaces need to be inclusive of that part of our population."

The draft plan, including easy-read versions, is available for comment on council's website until January 10.

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