Councillor’s Comment - Making Nelson Accessible

My goal is to make Nelson the most accessible city in New Zealand. As the recently appointed Chair of the Nelson-Tasman regional Accessibility for All Forum, I like hearing of developments that will make our region more accessible.

That’s why I was delighted with Council’s decision that from 1 May 2024, Total Mobility card holders will be able to use the eBus for free with a support person, if required. This is a great way to make transport more accessible for people who have mobility issues.

The Accessibility for All (A4A) Forum is a joint venture between Tasman District and Nelson City councils, with the support of many community organisations. My thanks to previous Chair Malcolm Saunders for the great service he gave to the region. I am keen to build on his legacy and put accessibility at the forefront of Council.

This forum is where practical solutions to accessibility barriers in consultation with Council projects are developed and discussed. We may not always get it right but our ambition to ensure facilities and activities are inclusive.

Previously, A4A members worked on the development of an accessibility checklist for businesses. The resulting brochure was produced with support from both councils. A4A, with help from CCS Disability Action, also successfully sought funding to purchase accessible beach chairs.

Accessibility is often a topic that gets raised when Council misses a step or fails to take everyone on the journey. However, we are focused on doing better. In Council’s draft Long Term Plan 2024-34, we propose developing a Council-wide approach to improving accessibility and conducting an audit of Council facilities with funding earmarked for the work. This is an exciting step for Council to take with the goal of developing a tool kit Council can use across the board.

We’d also like you to be part of this journey, whether it’s making sure the designated mobility carparks are left clear for our mobility card holders or encouraging and helping our less-mobile friends and family take the eBus under the Total Mobility scheme extension, together we can make sure Nelson truly is en route to being the most accessible city in New Zealand.

The A4A Forum meets four times a year. If you would like to join us, reach out as there is plenty of room for expansion. Share your experiences, challenges and suggestions and help us develop an inclusive environment for everyone.