By Callum Ludwig
At the Tuesday 28 February Council meeting, a report on the achievements of Yarra Ranges Council’s Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) was tabled, receiving plaudits and appreciation from Councillors.
The DAC is made up of community members with a disability, service providers and community organisations for people with a disability and unpaid carers of people with a disability. A fantastic example is legally blind Wesburn resident Marie Pleuger whose struggles have been covered in the Star Mail, who applied and was appointed as part of the DAC’s 2022 intake.
The DAC is chaired by Walling Ward Councillor Len Cox OAM who has been involved with the committee since its inception in 2014, he said the new committee appointed in 2022 are very keen and anxious to try to improve the life of so many people with a disability.
“It gives a good cross-section of the issues of disability and the committee clearly understands the difficulties and the problems that people with a disability do suffer from. Council has changed the way it does a lot of things in the community, because of the advice that’s been given to them by this committee,” he said.
“So many of these people also spend their life caring for somebody with a disability, which let’s face it, it’s a lot of work and is very difficult for some of them.”
In the last year, the DAC has provided input into Council plans and strategies such as the 10-year Economic Development Strategy, Monbulk Urban Design Framework and Warburton Place Plan, been consulted on four accessible play spaces that opened in the last year, advised on recreation space upgrades such as at the new Coldstream Pump Track and at the Belgrave South Netball Club and were involved in external advocacy such as the Eastern Community Legal Centre’s Hidden Voices project or the Art and Sole project.
Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister seconded the motion and said the Advisory Committees are often a very quiet voice, but they are a wonderful voice.
“I do worry from time to time that the voice of people can so easily be left out or marginalised in our community. I’m so reassured when I read of the direct action that happens as a result of the voices of these people from the small things like bicycle ramps to allow inclusive mountain biking to substantial advocacy around response to emergencies and other events,” she said.
“For me, it is a public statement of our ongoing commitment to make sure that everything we do at Yarra Ranges Council is looked at through the lens of making it accessible to as many people in our community regardless of their personal circumstances or their individual disability.”
The DAC was also involved in a number of accessible events held in the Yarra Ranges in 2022, including the Celebrating the Power of People with Disability event and the Gender and Diversity: Creating Equality and Respect event as well as promotional videos, presentations and newsletter contributions.
