Page 2845 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
requirement that the ACT provide a three per cent minimum of mobility parking spaces. The Australian standards currently dictate the ratio of mobility parking spaces at four spaces per 100. The three per cent minimum requirement is one that has been in existence for some time. However the code was only brought into law in October 2014. This means that Canberra already has a lower level than the Australian standard and I am advised that older car parks only have to comply with standards at the time of construction, which can vary greatly.
In April this year I made representations to the government on behalf of a constituent unable to use the CISAC facilities at Belconnen because of the insufficient number of mobility parking spaces. At CISAC four of the 220 sealed car spaces are mobility spaces, not all of which are located closest to the building doors, which met ACT standards at the time of construction. This constituent was told in November last year by Access Canberra that car park owners must follow the code which requires them to make available up to a minimum of three per cent spaces.
But the same constituent was also told after approaching Minister Fitzharris in her capacity as Minister for Transport and City Services that he would have to direct his complaint to CISAC as it was a private issue. Additionally, approval for CISAC was granted in 2006, predating the parking and vehicular access code. It is interesting that Access Canberra did not appear to know what rules apply to car parks in private leases.
It is also disappointing that the three per cent minimum in the 2014 code seemingly may not apply retrospectively, given that the majority of buildings and other places frequently visited by the public in the territory would have been built prior to that year. The only time a higher provision rate than the minimum three per cent is required is for car parks serving health facilities and other places that provide services specifically for aged persons and people with disabilities. It is understandable that there is a general belief among the disability community that the number of mobility car parks is insufficient for today’s needs.
I put some questions on how well disability parking is working in the ACT to a number of disability sector organisations. Women with Disabilities ACT’s Sue Salthouse informed me that the current ACT standards are inadequate, given our growing ageing population and proportion of Canberrans with permanent disabilities. Both factors necessitate wider, more accessible parking spacing close to entrances of buildings.
She confirmed that the Arboretum has taken the approach of making the entire top row of the car park mobility parking. Similarly, Parliament House has turned the entire top row of the underground car park into mobility parking. Even with this move, Ms Salthouse states that this still is not enough on most days, given the huge numbers of visitors to these two institutions. In looking at the needs of day-to-day activities, Ms Salthouse says the mobility parking ratio at shopping centres is also, on the whole, inadequate.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video