Submissions

To: Far North District Council
Date: May 2025

Purpose

This submission aims to provide an accessibility lens to the Far North District Council on the Strand Traffic Trial, focusing on the local disability community and visitors to Russell. DPA's goal is to ensure that any traffic changes and infrastructure developments prioritize the safety and access needs of disabled people, whether they are pedestrians or drivers, and to advocate for inclusive urban planning guided by Universal Design principles.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Far North District Council on the Strand Traffic Trial, aiming to provide an accessibility lens for the local disability community and visitors to Russell.

The submission highlights that Northland has a significant disabled population rate of 23 percent (at least 16,428 people in 2023), making accessibility a core principle aligned with the UNCRPD and the Aotearoa New Zealand Disability Strategy. Access for disabled people includes affordable and accessible public transport, connected communities with good housing and infrastructure, participation in economic, artistic, cultural, sporting, recreational, and social life, and ensuring their voices are heard in all decisions impacting them.

DPA raises significant safety concerns, particularly regarding shared spaces where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles interact. Anecdotal stories reveal e-scooters blocking pathways and forcing disabled people onto roads, posing risks for D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals (who cannot hear vehicles), visually impaired people (who cannot see approaching vehicles), and those with mobility issues (who cannot move quickly).

DPA recommends that Council consults with disabled people in Russell on local safety education around vehicles, emphasizing the need to prioritise pedestrian safety over driver convenience. E-scooters on footpaths are a particular concern, with reports of disabled people being injured and hospitalised.

Regarding disabled drivers, DPA notes Northland's reliance on vehicle-based transport and raises concerns about the impact of a full pedestrian priority option on bus stops and mobility parking. Existing public transport options in Northland are largely inaccessible, with link buses not wheelchair accessible and taxis being prohibitively expensive unless government-funded. The submission refers to research highlighting ongoing accessibility challenges in public transport and feelings of exclusion from the planning of sustainable city centres due to "disablist attitudes" of some transport planners.

DPA recommends that Council consults with the Russell disability community and its Disability Advisory Group on mobility parking placement and an accessible public transport network.

DPA emphasizes the importance of an "Accessible Journey" approach, where critical points of travel transitions (such as footpaths, kerb ramps, parking, driveways, accessways, landscaping, and passages between complexes) are fully accessible. The submission notes that physical barriers like business signage, outdoor furniture, public seats, artwork, gardens, waste bins, speed bumps, and bollards can create obstacles for disabled people.

DPA advocates for Universal Design principles to be implemented from the initial planning of any new urban development to save significant time and money on redesigns. It promotes the need for Councils to conduct extensive barrier-free accessibility audits to determine necessary changes and support the building of accessible, inclusive spaces.

Key Recommendation/Finding:

That Council undertake barrier free audits to determine what changes are needed across different communities.

Supporting Statement 1:

Significant time and money could be saved if Universal Design principles are implemented from the initial planning of any new urban development, as redesigning spaces can cost more time and money.

Supporting Statement 2:

Disabled people often must navigate pathways with barriers such as business signage, outdoor furniture, public seats, artwork, gardens, and waste bins which can impede their movement.