Celebrating the importance of wheelchairs

Published: 01 March 2021. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Improving access to the beach, upgrading bus stops and enhancing recreational facilities are just some of the ways Council is making Cairns more accessible for wheelchair users.

Founded by prominent disability rights campaigner and British blogger Steve Wilkinson – aka “Wheelchair Steve” – International Wheelchair Day is being celebrated for the 13th time this year, highlighting the positive impact the equipment has on people’s lives.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning – who spoke this morning at Spinal Life Australia Healthy Living Centre at an event to mark the day – reaffirmed Council’s commitment to ensure equality, access and inclusion for all members of the community.

“Today is an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact of wheelchairs, those who use wheelchairs and also to acknowledge those who provide support and care for wheelchair users,” Cr Manning said.

“Access and mobility is something many of us take for granted, we do not consider the positive impact something as simple as a wheelchair has on a person’s life.”

Cr Manning said Council was continuing to work to ensure people were engaged and connected within the community, irrespective of their abilities.

“Council has made real progress in improving the capacity for people with a disability to access our services, facilities and information," Cr Manning said.

“We have an ongoing improvement program that focuses on access and our Access and Inclusion Action Plan is set to be reviewed and released later this year, bringing it in line with current and future trends to meet ongoing community needs.”

Highlights of Council access improvement program include:

Accessible beaches program – including availability of float chairs at Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.Work to ensure the all bus stops in the Cairns area are Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) compliant by December 2022. There are more than 330 bus stops in the Cairns region, with about 89 per cent having been made DDA compliant over the past seven years.Cairns is the only regional city in Australia to have braille and tactile street name signs installed in numerous locations.Renovations to The Court House included designs to improved access into the heritage building.CBD accessible parking bay map on the My Cairns app.New accessible paths, seating areas and improved picnic tables and accessible barbecues along the northern beaches.Recent footpath and upgraded kerb ramps along Smith St, linking the Sheridan St bus stop to the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre.

Cr Manning said there were plans for an accessible outdoor gym to be located on the Cairns Esplanade, as well as for improvements to access, parking and facilities for the parkland opposite the Healthy Living Centre.