Arrow Right Arrow Left Bsky Calendar Close Facebook Home Instagram LinkedIn Members Hub Newsletter Plus Search Toggle X

Submissions

Dunedin City Council Reserves General Management Policy Review

Posted in Submission, Regional; Tagged Parks and recreation, Accessibility; Posted 18 months ago by DPA Less than a minute to read

Print

To: Dunedin City Council
Date: March 2025

 

Purpose

This submission’s core purpose is to ensure that all reserves within the city are made accessible to disabled people, allowing them to enjoy and benefit from these natural spaces equally with non-disabled individuals. DPA advocates for the consistent application of Universal Design principles in all new and existing reserve amenities and infrastructure, and provides specific feedback on access, public use, tracks, buildings, car parking, lighting, and signage

Summary of DPA submission

DPA believes that all reserves should be accessible to disabled people so that they can enjoy them in the same way as non-disabled people. DPA is pleased to note that the Dunedin City Council has agreed to build and construct all new reserve amenities to Universal Design standards, a positive step picked up from previous submissions.

DPA welcomes the specific provisions around accessibility in the draft document, particularly Objective 2 focused on improving access "to and through parks recognising the range of visitor abilities". They also welcome policies that commit to providing and maintaining safe and accessible routes to public facilities on reserves and considering all-ability access when renewing or developing accessways. DPA supports the general philosophy of the tracks policy which aims to connect communities and provide cultural, social, educational, and recreational benefits, and welcomes the recognition of safety conflicts with micromobility vehicles.

DPA is pleased to see the recognition for functional, accessible, and inclusive toilets, showers, and changing rooms, as well as playgrounds designed for "all ages, abilities and cultures". DPA also welcomes the recognition that mobility parks should be incorporated into the design of new and existing reserves. DPA welcomes the statement on signage, committing to signs accessible and understandable to people of different ages and abilities.

However, DPA recommends using the term "disabled people" consistently throughout the document rather than specific impairment groups, to reflect that people are disabled by barriers they face. DPA recommends changing the wording of policy 5b on tracks from "people with low mobility" to "disabled people" to ensure all disabled individuals benefit from track updates. DPA also recommends deleting "Where appropriate" from the statement on page 87 regarding reserve access, so it simply reads: "Access to reserves for disabled people shall be recognised in the design, construction and maintenance of reserve infrastructure," emphasizing that all reserves should be accessible. DPA recommends that the safety of the public, including disabled people, is fully considered when decisions about lighting on reserves are made, given that disabled adults are more likely to feel unsafe after dark.

DPA recommends that disabled people are engaged with around the creation and placement of accessible signage on reserves, including features like Braille or large print.

 


Key Recommendation/Finding:

A key recommendation is that the statement on page 86 regarding access to reserves is changed to read "Access to reserves for disabled people shall be recognised in the design, construction and maintenance of reserve infrastructure," by deleting the phrase "Where appropriate".

 


Supporting Statement 1:

DPA asserts that all reserves should be accessible to disabled people, not just those that Council deems "appropriate".

 


Supporting Statement 2:

This amendment would reinforce the commitment to universal access, ensuring that disabled people can enjoy the full use of reserves regardless of their impairment

Download

DPA Submission 2503 Dunedin City Council Reserves General Management Policy Review (DOCX)

Related submissions

Related content