Are you a Geelong resident with lived experience of disability or just an interest in accessibility? Well, the City of Greater Geelong would love to hear from you. They are currently holding a survey and a number of drop in sessions to help shape their parks, streets and public places to create more accessible spaces for people with disabilities. And to chat with me all about this. It's my great pleasure to welcome City of Greater Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken to Talking Vision. Anthony, welcome to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time today.

Are you a Geelong resident with lived experience of disability or just an interest in accessibility? Well, the City of Greater Geelong would love to hear from you. They are currently holding a survey and a number of drop in sessions to help shape their parks, streets and public places to create more accessible spaces for people with disabilities. And to chat with me all about this. It's my great pleasure to welcome City of Greater Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken to Talking Vision. Anthony, welcome to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time today.

I'm very pleased to be here and thank you for showing interest in Geelong.

I'm very pleased to be here and thank you for showing interest in Geelong.

No problem at all. Now firstly, Anthony, we're here to discuss a bit of community engagement that the City of Greater Geelong is seeking from local residents in regards to accessibility. But before we get into the details of the survey and feedback themselves, I'm keen to hear a little bit more about your disability access and inclusion portfolio, as well as the committee that you belong to the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

No problem at all. Now firstly, Anthony, we're here to discuss a bit of community engagement that the City of Greater Geelong is seeking from local residents in regards to accessibility. But before we get into the details of the survey and feedback themselves, I'm keen to hear a little bit more about your disability access and inclusion portfolio, as well as the committee that you belong to the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Well, Sam, the first thing I'd like to disclose to the listeners is I am an elected official with the City of Greater Geelong, and I've been there since 2017. But I'm also a person living with a disability. I'm actually deaf. And I'm very fortunate that cochlear implants, um, have given me hearing capacity. Um, and that's why I'm able to be able to listen to you today and also represent my community. And I think that's part of the reason why, um, I'm involved with our access and disability portfolio that we have in the city of Geelong, and I share the Access and Inclusion Committee. That committee is an advisory committee to council, and it's made up of other members of the community who are living with disabilities. Um, it may be mobility issues, it may be hearing issues, it may be sight issues. Um, it may be, um, mental health issues and it may be acquired disabilities. We have had a number of people who have had accidents that have had acquired brain injuries that sit on that committee as well too. The whole purpose of the portfolio and the committee is to elevate advocacy and issues associated with people living with a disability in the community. And I'm proud to say that I think we've done very well with that community and also with the representation, by giving a stronger voice to people living with a disability.

Well, Sam, the first thing I'd like to disclose to the listeners is I am an elected official with the City of Greater Geelong, and I've been there since 2017. But I'm also a person living with a disability. I'm actually deaf. And I'm very fortunate that cochlear implants, um, have given me hearing capacity. Um, and that's why I'm able to be able to listen to you today and also represent my community. And I think that's part of the reason why, um, I'm involved with our access and disability portfolio that we have in the city of Geelong, and I share the Access and Inclusion Committee. That committee is an advisory committee to council, and it's made up of other members of the community who are living with disabilities. Um, it may be mobility issues, it may be hearing issues, it may be sight issues. Um, it may be, um, mental health issues and it may be acquired disabilities. We have had a number of people who have had accidents that have had acquired brain injuries that sit on that committee as well too. The whole purpose of the portfolio and the committee is to elevate advocacy and issues associated with people living with a disability in the community. And I'm proud to say that I think we've done very well with that community and also with the representation, by giving a stronger voice to people living with a disability.

Fantastic. And that's also what we're, of course, here to chat a bit further about. The City of Greater Geelong is looking for public feedback to help shape your parks, streets and public spaces. And as I understand it, that covers two main projects, namely Public Realm and Open Space. So could you tell us a little bit more about public realm and open space?

Fantastic. And that's also what we're, of course, here to chat a bit further about. The City of Greater Geelong is looking for public feedback to help shape your parks, streets and public spaces. And as I understand it, that covers two main projects, namely Public Realm and Open Space. So could you tell us a little bit more about public realm and open space?

Look, there are two major strategies that the city's announced public engagement in at the present time. Public realm is actually spaces outside of our buildings. And what we're attempting to do there is to identify spaces where people may come and congregate to and actually how we can try and improve them. And public open space is where we have either organized sports or community activities. So it might be like where there's a local program, where there's a sporting field or where there's just public open space, which is just available for people to come and use at any particular time. The two strategies are separate, and what we're engaging at the present time is the communities to get feedback about both of them. And an example is we've got significant building structures in Geelong, but we've got these public areas outside of them and we really would like to hear from the community how we could make those spaces better. And with our public open space, we really want to try and make them as accessible as possible for all members of the community, that they can feel safe and access them and enjoy them. But I personally have a very strong commitment to try to make sure that our public spaces, both public realm and open space, do meet accessibility requirements for people living with a disability. Whether it is sight, as most Vision Australia people would be who are listening to the broadcast today, but it also includes people living with hearing loss or mobility issues. And of course, you know those people that need access to a wheelchair or something for movement. The design and accessibility of our public spaces and public realm is really important. And that includes like having pathways that go towards our buildings, creating opportunities where there is existing tree canopy and mature tree canopy that someone can access the shade under those trees and in public open spaces. It really is about how we can bring everyone's needs together in the future to make it an enjoyable space for them.

Look, there are two major strategies that the city's announced public engagement in at the present time. Public realm is actually spaces outside of our buildings. And what we're attempting to do there is to identify spaces where people may come and congregate to and actually how we can try and improve them. And public open space is where we have either organized sports or community activities. So it might be like where there's a local program, where there's a sporting field or where there's just public open space, which is just available for people to come and use at any particular time. The two strategies are separate, and what we're engaging at the present time is the communities to get feedback about both of them. And an example is we've got significant building structures in Geelong, but we've got these public areas outside of them and we really would like to hear from the community how we could make those spaces better. And with our public open space, we really want to try and make them as accessible as possible for all members of the community, that they can feel safe and access them and enjoy them. But I personally have a very strong commitment to try to make sure that our public spaces, both public realm and open space, do meet accessibility requirements for people living with a disability. Whether it is sight, as most Vision Australia people would be who are listening to the broadcast today, but it also includes people living with hearing loss or mobility issues. And of course, you know those people that need access to a wheelchair or something for movement. The design and accessibility of our public spaces and public realm is really important. And that includes like having pathways that go towards our buildings, creating opportunities where there is existing tree canopy and mature tree canopy that someone can access the shade under those trees and in public open spaces. It really is about how we can bring everyone's needs together in the future to make it an enjoyable space for them.

And Anthony, as I understand it, the public community feedback has been open for just over a month now. What are the sort of things you've already heard from the community, especially in regards to accessibility?

And Anthony, as I understand it, the public community feedback has been open for just over a month now. What are the sort of things you've already heard from the community, especially in regards to accessibility?

Well, look, the first thing that's come back is people said they want more public open space, and that probably reflects what we all experienced during Covid, where our local park actually became really important during that lockdown period because we needed some space to actually meet and congregate in. One of the challenges that we've got in Geelong is that over the next 17 years, our population is actually going to grow from 289,000 to an estimated 400,000 people, and it means our public open spaces have become even more important as more and more people are living in our urban areas and high density areas means that they will need public open space. So what the initial feedback that we've received is predominantly been about people saying we actually need more public open space, but there's been some really good feedback as well, too, about what type of design materials we use for our footpaths, whether we should be using concrete because it's much more accessible than gravel, how we transition from grassed areas to public areas as well too. And that discussion has certainly been taken by the council to consider it as well too. And what we're also it's not part of this particular strategy, but we are getting feedback as well too, about dogs and animals in public spaces as well too. So we're trying to channel that engagement. We actually have got a major dog management project that's going on underway as well to at the present time with engagement, but most people have actually been really good to think about ideas about how they can improve the public spaces and even simple things like people saying that they do need water fountains in public open spaces. And even going back to that dog issue, people are saying we do need to have more dog bags for areas that the city is actually creating new public open spaces as well too. The engagement process is actually still open till the 12th of May, and we've actually got a major drop in. People can actually access it now online and look at the council website, and we may talk about that a little bit later as well too. But yeah, we really would encourage more feedback from people living with the disability so that we can try to target towards more accessibility. Most of the feedback has come from able people with a really good to get some targeted feedback from people living with a disability, and in particular, people with low vision who can try and assist the Council to improve its urban design principles so that it can enable people with low vision to access both our public realm areas and our open space areas.

Well, look, the first thing that's come back is people said they want more public open space, and that probably reflects what we all experienced during Covid, where our local park actually became really important during that lockdown period because we needed some space to actually meet and congregate in. One of the challenges that we've got in Geelong is that over the next 17 years, our population is actually going to grow from 289,000 to an estimated 400,000 people, and it means our public open spaces have become even more important as more and more people are living in our urban areas and high density areas means that they will need public open space. So what the initial feedback that we've received is predominantly been about people saying we actually need more public open space, but there's been some really good feedback as well, too, about what type of design materials we use for our footpaths, whether we should be using concrete because it's much more accessible than gravel, how we transition from grassed areas to public areas as well too. And that discussion has certainly been taken by the council to consider it as well too. And what we're also it's not part of this particular strategy, but we are getting feedback as well too, about dogs and animals in public spaces as well too. So we're trying to channel that engagement. We actually have got a major dog management project that's going on underway as well to at the present time with engagement, but most people have actually been really good to think about ideas about how they can improve the public spaces and even simple things like people saying that they do need water fountains in public open spaces. And even going back to that dog issue, people are saying we do need to have more dog bags for areas that the city is actually creating new public open spaces as well too. The engagement process is actually still open till the 12th of May, and we've actually got a major drop in. People can actually access it now online and look at the council website, and we may talk about that a little bit later as well too. But yeah, we really would encourage more feedback from people living with the disability so that we can try to target towards more accessibility. Most of the feedback has come from able people with a really good to get some targeted feedback from people living with a disability, and in particular, people with low vision who can try and assist the Council to improve its urban design principles so that it can enable people with low vision to access both our public realm areas and our open space areas.

As you've mentioned there, The the drop in sessions are very quickly upon us. In fact, one of them's already just happened as of this week. It was on the 30th of April for people to head along then, but if people have missed out, there's still time. They can head along to a couple more. So let's get the details about those two sessions on the seventh and 8th of May.

As you've mentioned there, The the drop in sessions are very quickly upon us. In fact, one of them's already just happened as of this week. It was on the 30th of April for people to head along then, but if people have missed out, there's still time. They can head along to a couple more. So let's get the details about those two sessions on the seventh and 8th of May.

Well, what they are, um, Sam, is we recognize that not everybody can just fill out forms through the online internet. So there were three traditional face to face opportunities for people to go and be interviewed for public engagement. The second one was to occur at Drysdale, at the library there, at the new library on Wednesday the 7th of May, between 4 and 6 p.m., and the last one is actually scheduled to occur out in shoreline at the new Northern Arc on Thursday the 8th of May, between 4 and 6 p.m., and we have missed the one that was, of course, on the 30th of April, which was that Wiki Niall, which is the civic administration building in the centre of Geelong.

Well, what they are, um, Sam, is we recognize that not everybody can just fill out forms through the online internet. So there were three traditional face to face opportunities for people to go and be interviewed for public engagement. The second one was to occur at Drysdale, at the library there, at the new library on Wednesday the 7th of May, between 4 and 6 p.m., and the last one is actually scheduled to occur out in shoreline at the new Northern Arc on Thursday the 8th of May, between 4 and 6 p.m., and we have missed the one that was, of course, on the 30th of April, which was that Wiki Niall, which is the civic administration building in the centre of Geelong.

But that's okay because as you've said, there's still opportunities for people to have their say, either in those drop in sessions or through the survey itself. So let's get the details of that survey in particular.

But that's okay because as you've said, there's still opportunities for people to have their say, either in those drop in sessions or through the survey itself. So let's get the details of that survey in particular.

If people go to Geelong, Australia. Com.au so all one word Geelong, Australia. Com.au. There's a section called have Your Say. And there is the opportunity to click on that section to help shape our parks, streets and public spaces. There are some accessibility. So if you need hearing or speech support you can click on that. And it will actually read out what is actually on the page. And there is translation support as well too, if people have non-English speaking background. But I suspect the hearing and speech support would be really important for people with low vision. That can be accessed through the council's website, and you're encouraged to fill out that survey before the 12th of May at 5 p.m., when it will formally close.

If people go to Geelong, Australia. Com.au so all one word Geelong, Australia. Com.au. There's a section called have Your Say. And there is the opportunity to click on that section to help shape our parks, streets and public spaces. There are some accessibility. So if you need hearing or speech support you can click on that. And it will actually read out what is actually on the page. And there is translation support as well too, if people have non-English speaking background. But I suspect the hearing and speech support would be really important for people with low vision. That can be accessed through the council's website, and you're encouraged to fill out that survey before the 12th of May at 5 p.m., when it will formally close.

But, um, given the timing of everything and people may not be able to get in touch during session one. Don't stress because as I understand it, Anthony, there will be a second phase of community engagement happening later on in the year for people around September. October? Isn't that right?

But, um, given the timing of everything and people may not be able to get in touch during session one. Don't stress because as I understand it, Anthony, there will be a second phase of community engagement happening later on in the year for people around September. October? Isn't that right?

Yeah. Look, the way our engagement processes work is we do our initial community engagement, which is what's occurring at the moment. So that was between the 28th of March and the 12th of May. And that's where we initial get our initial feedback. And then the officers will actually collate that information and collate other data as well to to develop the draft strategies. And because we have so much public realm and also public open space in Geelong. It's quite a big task. So that's actually occurring between March and October of this year. And then there will be a draft of each of the strategies will come out and we will re seek public engagement. So you are right for those people who are thinking that they may have missed an opportunity to influence that, the draft strategies will be released and we will seek feedback on those draft strategies. So if there's some really important things that have been missed that people want to present, they will get that opportunity between October and November of this year.

Yeah. Look, the way our engagement processes work is we do our initial community engagement, which is what's occurring at the moment. So that was between the 28th of March and the 12th of May. And that's where we initial get our initial feedback. And then the officers will actually collate that information and collate other data as well to to develop the draft strategies. And because we have so much public realm and also public open space in Geelong. It's quite a big task. So that's actually occurring between March and October of this year. And then there will be a draft of each of the strategies will come out and we will re seek public engagement. So you are right for those people who are thinking that they may have missed an opportunity to influence that, the draft strategies will be released and we will seek feedback on those draft strategies. So if there's some really important things that have been missed that people want to present, they will get that opportunity between October and November of this year.

Okay, wonderful. Well, in that case, Anthony, I think we might get in touch in 4 or 5 months time and let people know about how those phases have gone already, but also, of course, invite people to take part in phase two of the community engagement for open space and public realm, and the strategies the City of Greater Geelong is putting together to make the city more accessible for all constituents out there. I've been speaking today with the City of Geelong's Disability Access and Inclusion portfolio chair and chair of the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Councillor Anthony Aitken, about the community engagement the City of Greater Geelong is currently undertaking to improve the accessibility of parks, roads and public spaces in the Greater Geelong region. Anthony, thank you so much for your time today. It was a pleasure to catch up with you.

Okay, wonderful. Well, in that case, Anthony, I think we might get in touch in 4 or 5 months time and let people know about how those phases have gone already, but also, of course, invite people to take part in phase two of the community engagement for open space and public realm, and the strategies the City of Greater Geelong is putting together to make the city more accessible for all constituents out there. I've been speaking today with the City of Geelong's Disability Access and Inclusion portfolio chair and chair of the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Councillor Anthony Aitken, about the community engagement the City of Greater Geelong is currently undertaking to improve the accessibility of parks, roads and public spaces in the Greater Geelong region. Anthony, thank you so much for your time today. It was a pleasure to catch up with you.

Thanks, Sam, and thank you to all your listeners, and I wish everyone a great 2025. And it sounds like we may have the opportunity to speak again towards the end of the year, and I would welcome that opportunity to come back and discuss some of the draft ideas that have come out, and I'm pleased I encourage anybody living with a disability to be an active member of our community and try and make sure that everything is more accessible, and those people who are making the decisions listen and you are heard and we influence outcomes. So thank you, Sam.

Thanks, Sam, and thank you to all your listeners, and I wish everyone a great 2025. And it sounds like we may have the opportunity to speak again towards the end of the year, and I would welcome that opportunity to come back and discuss some of the draft ideas that have come out, and I'm pleased I encourage anybody living with a disability to be an active member of our community and try and make sure that everything is more accessible, and those people who are making the decisions listen and you are heard and we influence outcomes. So thank you, Sam.