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18 Access & Equity |
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Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 – Sect 217 – Clause (1) (d) (i) Introduction Shoalhaven City Council is committed to developing a Community Plan every 5 years to assist Council identify the needs of its community and provide or advocate for appropriate and accessible services and facilities for the benefit of its community. Council will consider it’s Community Plan when formulating its management plans for each year. Community Plan 2005-2010 Council’s Community Plan 2005 – 2010 was developed in consultation with the community during 2004 and has identified the needs of the following target groups: · Children & Families · Youth · Older Persons · Persons with a Disability · Persons from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background · Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders · Men & Women These identified needs have formed the basis for the Access and Equity activities covered in this Management Plan. A copy of the current Community Plan is available for perusal at Council’s Administration Building Shoalhaven Profile Shoalhaven is a large geographical area of 4,660 sq km with 49 villages and towns widely spread throughout the area. The population is approximately 90,000 although during the main holiday periods the number of residents and visitors total well over 320,000. Shoalhaven has a higher than State and Illawarra average proportion of children, older residents and aboriginal people. A high proportion of people are not in the workforce. Public transport is limited, which impacts on both residents and visitors. Definition of Access & Equity Activity An Access and Equity activity is defined as one which assists Council to: § Promote fairness in the distribution of resources, particularly for those most in need § Recognise and promote people’s rights and improve the accountability of decision makers. § Ensure that people have fairer access to the economic resources and services essential to meeting their basic needs and improving their quality of life. § Give people better opportunities for genuine participation and consultation about decisions affecting their lives Identified Access & Equity Activities The following summary table shows the significant identified Access & Equity Activities proposed for the period of this Management Plan. They have been derived from the Council’s Community Plan 2005 – 2010 and from Council’s general operations. Greater detail for each item in the summary table is provided in Part C of this Plan and cross-references to the relevant tasks are provided. Some tasks are relevant to several of the target groups and because of NSW Local Government reporting requirements these are stated in each of those categories. The summary table is structured under four main strategies: Supportive Communities Empowered Communities Cohesive Communities Creative Communities With the various target group headings together with goals listed under the following target groups: § Children and Families § Youth § Older Persons § Persons with a Disability § Persons from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background § Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders § Men & Women Children & Families § Supported Children’s Services throughout the city with the dissemination of information and supported training. § Supported the Purple Ribbon campaign against child abuse with the distribution of 10,000 ribbons, media campaign and support of projects that support victims of child abuse. § The provision of Directories for Children & Families, with descriptions of the different types of children’s services, also available on Council’s web site. § Supported the inaugural “Welcoming Babies Ceremony”, where families of new born babies were awarded with a “Welcome Certificate” and a Directory of Services to assist them in accessing services when they needed them. § Involved in the “Families First” network in the Shoalhaven which is a range of early intervention and prevention services to assist families (particularly vulnerable families) raise healthy, well adjusted children. Youth § Facilitated employment through Mission Employment of a networking specialist to promote and develop access points for young people through the Shoalhaven. § Further developed Council's web page to allow young people to raise issues relevant to their needs. § Continue to work on the Integrated Youth Plan. Updating previous Youth strategies through the Integrated Youth Plan. § Developed, produced and distributed brochure relating to Council's Youth Advisory Committee. § Promoted and provided fortnightly training for new youth workers at the Nowra Youth centre. § Information distributed to youth workers concerning grants, youth issues and services. § Implemented recommendations of the youth need assessments. § Completion of the Ulladulla Youth Centre. § Maintained a Youth Bus. § Organised Youth Week 2006 § Developed and implemented a street work plan that attends to local business needs in addressing youth issues. § Addressed crime and vandalism issues in consultation with the community. § Continued working with Shoalhaven Area Consultative Committee in providing opportunities for local youth. § Consulted with TAFE Futures National Inquiry. § Supported and assisted the Career Expo 2006 at Shoalhaven Campus. § Implemented educational opportunities through TAFE Outreach Courses, Living Skills Courses and Music and Artistic Courses. § Implemented the ‘Unlimited Potential’ program to develop and improve computer literacy for young people. § Continue to support Nowra Youth Services and Koori Habitat to provide culturally appropriate programs. § Worked in partnership with the Department of housing to increase housing opportunities for young people. § Support of Ulladulla, Bay & Basin and Nowra Youth Workers. Older Persons § Organised and conducted Seniors Week 2006. § Prepared and published new edition of Activities for Seniors booklet. § Conducted Scooter Safety Workshops · Needs of Older People considered in the assessment and determination of development applications. · Access to transport supported through involvement with Shoalhaven Transport Working Party. · Services for Seniors Directories compiled and distributed. · Council has adopted the “Shoalhaven Housing Strategy 2006. The Strategy has identified the need for provision of a range of housing types to meet the ever changing demographic trends, particularly the needs of youth, the aged and disabled and the lower number of persons per household. Persons with Disabilities · Mobi Mat Recreational Path trialled at Mollymook Beach to provide improved beach access. · Organised events for International Day of People with a Disability. · Developed and Co-ordinated Beautiful Souls program to highlight the issues of Mental Health and Suicide. · Access to transport supported through involvement with Shoalhaven Transport Working Party. · Commenced review of Disability Discrimination Act Action Plan. · Needs of People with Disabilities considered in the assessment and determination of development applications. · Reconstruction of Mollymook Beach Foreshore (Stage 1) is nearing completion and incorporates ramp access to the beach. · Improvements to access to Huskisson Community Centre completed. · Tender called for access improvements to Ulladulla Administrative Centre · Jetty completed at Maria Avenue Burrill Lake incorporating floating pontoon for improved accessibility. · Council has adopted the “Shoalhaven Housing Strategy 2006. The Strategy has identified the need for provision of a range of housing types to meet the ever changing demographic trends, particularly the needs of youth, the aged and disabled and the lower number of persons per household. Persons From a Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Background · Distributed Multicultural Directory. · Assisted the Illawarra Multicultural Service to provide Cultural awareness training in Ulladulla. · Organised a “Harmony Day” competition through the local schools around the theme “What Does Living In Harmony Mean To You?” and then awarded competition winners. · Continued to support the local multicultural committee and social group. · Continued to assist the Nowra Italian group in accessing services and assistance for their group. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders · Continued production of the “SKIN”;- (Shoalhaven Koori Information Network) magazine which provides information to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and highlights the good work done in this community. · Assisted in the inaugural “Walk Against Sexual Abuse”, which encouraged Aboriginal and all people to speak out against abuse. · Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer also assisted many Aboriginal residents’ access services in the community. · Council provides mail out services and in kind support to local Aboriginal service providers. · Aboriginal culture is continuing to be recognised and considered fur future planning projects. In and financial contribution to Department of Environment & Conservation Working Party project. · Ongoing process of identifying sites and liaising with Department of Environment & Conservation. Men and Women · Supported the Berry and Bay & Basin Men’s sheds. · Assisted in the organisation of a week of events to celebrate International Women’s Day. · Supported the Nowra and Ulladulla Domestic Violence committees raise awareness around the issues of domestic violence.
*Grp. Dir = Group Director or Section Manager responsible for Action/Co-ordination: CO Community & Operations; CS City Services; DES Development & Environmental Services; FC Finance & Corporate Services; GM General Manager; GMHR Human Resources; GMIT Information Technology; PLNG Planning Services; SW Shoalhaven Water.
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