Accessibility upgrades in Garfield

Located on Ritchie Street, Garfield, the new accessible footpath and parking bay aims to increase inclusion and participation of people with disability by enhancing access and reducing barriers. 

The upgrade works were part of council’s Access Upgrade Program, and included: 

• pavement construction 

• kerb channel construction 

• installation of tactile ground surface indicators  

• signage and line-marking. 

The location of the accessible carpark was selected to provide the community with a safe, continuous path of travel to the existing ramp and public toilets. 

The access upgrade on Ritchie Street was endorsed by Cardinia Shire’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, which includes local people with a lived experience of disability or as a carer/support person of a person with a disability, as well as representatives of community groups and disability organisations. 

Committee members act as ambassadors for the disability community through advocacy, promoting information, training, activities, and raising issues relating to disability in Cardinia Shire as well as providing advice on Council’s building and facilities access upgrade program. 

Cardinia Shire Mayor and member of the Access and Inclusion Committee Councillor Tammy Radford said, “Council supports an inclusive community comprised of people from diverse backgrounds, including and not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, those identifying as LGBTIQ+, people of faith, and people of all ages, genders and abilities. 

“Our disability access improvements are vital to the future development of Cardinia Shire, and I’m pleased to see the Ritchie Street upgrade being delivered for the Garfield community.” 

For more information about access and inclusion within Cardinia Shire, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/supportingourcommunity