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Combined Council community consultation activities
In the formulation of the original 2017-2021 Disability Inclusion Action Plan Clarence Valley Council took a collaborative and region-wide approach to consultation. Council worked with six other local councils to ensure a coordinated approach was taken and to share resources. In May 2016 a survey was undertaken across the Clarence Valley, Ballina Shire, Byron Shire, Coffs Harbour City, Kyogle, Lismore City, and Richmond Valley Council areas. This collaborative effort resulted in 540 responses across the region from individuals with disability, carers, friends and relatives of people with disability, and a broad range of disability service and advocacy organisations. Due to the global effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) we as community have had to make a series of adjustments to ensure the safety and protection of our community. One of the effects was the delay of our Clarence Valley local Council Elections. As a result of the delay to the election process our Council was not established until early February 2022 which also delayed the formation of a range of community consultative committees, such as the Access Committee which is a key committee and contributor to the development of the Clarence Valley Council Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Other community consultation activities have also been postponed in order to abide by social distancing restriction and limiting community gatherings. Due to these unavoidable delay the decision was taken to review the 2017/2021 plan and extend this out to 2022/2023 so that a fully revised Disability Action Plan can be developed along side the Access Committee and the community to reflect the needs of our community in to the future.
The development of the new 2023/2028 Disability Inclusion action Plan will also have access to the latest 2021 census information that will further inform the development of the new plan.
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Clarence Valley Council
