Locally owned and independent
October 26, 2023
The Northern Rivers Times
NEWS 21
Have your say: Draft Tweed Access and Inclusion Plan 2023 - 2026
Courtney Peate’s Connect and Captivate team at Tweed Shire Council’s International Day of People with Disability community event, December 2022.
key areas: • developing positive community attitudes and behaviours • creating liveable and accessible communities • supporting access to meaningful employment • improving access to mainstream services through better systems and processes. Cr Cherry said this plan aims to build on the actions outlined and delivered in Council’s previous access and inclusion plans. “The draft Tweed Access and Inclusion Plan 2023 – 2026 aims to build on the positive and successful
work we have achieved
original plan developed by
from our plan adopted
the community in 2014,”
“We aim to keep listening to our community and staff about their priorities and ideas for making the Tweed more inclusive.” The draft plan is a result of consultation with the Tweed community, including people living with disability, their carers, local disability service providers, peak organisations, Council’s Equal Access Advisory Committee, the Tweed Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Council staff over the past two years. Some of the key actions from the draft plan include: • conducting access
Kyle Sculley, member of the Tweed Equal Access Advisory Committee and Jayden, Cudgen Headland Lifeguard, at Kingscliff Beach. Kyle is using the all-terrain wheelchair with Jayden assisting to drive it over beach matting.
from 2018 – 2021 and the
Cr Cherry said.
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remove barriers to access in public open spaces and Council facilities, including at Murwillumbah Railway Station • reviewing Council grants and other programs to ensure they are inclusive of people of all abilities • providing disability awareness training for Council staff and committees. The community is invited to provide feedback on the draft plan before 4 pm on Wednesday 8 November in one of the following ways: 1. Complete a short feedback form on Your Say Tweed or via hard copy, available at Council offices and libraries in Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah. 2. Send a written submission to communitywellbeing@ tweed.nsw.gov.au or via post. 3. Attend a group community information session or meet with a project officer – details available on Your Say Tweed. For more information visit yoursaytweed.com.au/ diap.
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Council is seeking community input on the draft Tweed Access and Inclusion Plan 2023 – 2026, which aims to ensure equal opportunity, accessibility and inclusion for all Tweed residents and visitors regardless of their abilities. Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said the draft plan demonstrated Council’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for people in the Tweed to participate in every aspect of working and community life. “Council delivers more than 50 services to our residents and visitors and this plan will help us to ensure as many people as possible can access them,” Cr Cherry said. “Our commitments within this plan focus on making inclusion a core business of Council and delivering inclusive services and programs with partners in community, government and business.” The draft Tweed Access and Inclusion Plan 2023 – 2026 outlines the measurable actions Council will take to create a more inclusive and supportive Tweed community across four
