Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Ellsmore –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)           the City is committed to building an inclusive and accessible City for residents and visitors now and into the future; 

(ii)          there are stairs linking Cowper Wharf Road with Mrs Macquarie’s Road, enabling people to access the Royal Botanic Gardens via the Harbour Foreshore Walk from Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharves;

(iii)        however, they are very difficult to navigate for those with wheelchairs, mobility issues, prams and bicycles;

(iv)        an accessible path to the foreshore walk which leads from Woolloomooloo to the City’s wonderful Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool ought to be installed so that everyone has equal ability to enjoy the facilities provided by the City;

(v)         Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is located on land managed by The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust;

(vi)        the NSW Government is building a 91 kilometre continuous pathway linking the Sydney Opera House to Parramatta Park to ensure more people are able to access and benefit from Sydney’s beautiful parks and waterways; and

(vii)      the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the objectives of A City for All: Social Sustainability Policy and Action Plan 2018-2028 and the Inclusion (Disability) Action Plan 2017-2021 both work to ensure that equitable and dignified opportunities are presented to everyone; and 

(B)        the Lord Mayor be requested to write to:

(i)           the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust to investigate the urgent construction of a route from Woolloomooloo to the foreshore path that meets accessibility guidelines and principles, in consultation with the community and the City of Sydney; and

(ii)          the Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Active Transport, Shadow Minister for Transport and Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion to advocate for this investigation and ask them to consider whether the continuous waterfront pathway from Parramatta Park should be extended to Woolloomooloo.

Carried unanimously.

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