If elected to government in March 2022, a Malinauskas Labor Government will improve infrastructure in Gawler for people living with disabilities.
On Friday 3rd December, to mark the International Day for People Living with Disability, local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo announced two projects that a future Labor government would fund.
Mr Piccolo said that the long journey to improve the quality of life for people living with disability commenced with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by the Gillard Labor Federal Government.
“Despite its faults, the NDIS is providing people living with disability greater support,” said Mr Piccolo.
“While the NDIS can help with individual support there is still a role for local and state governments to play in creating more inclusive and accessible communities.”
Mr Piccolo said the two announcements made on Friday demonstrate State Labor’s commitment to continually improve the quality of life for people living with disability and their families.
Mr Piccolo announced that a future state Labor government would invest up to $60,000 to improve the playground at Apex Park to make it more accessible for people living with disability.
“We will work with the Apex Club of Gawler and the local council to add water, sensory and acoustic features to make the playground more useable for people living with intellectual disabilities,” said Mr Piccolo.
“These features will allow young people to engage more with the equipment and features at the playground.”
“Apex Park was chosen for this important upgrade as the Apex Club have a strong commitment to improving services in the park, which is centrally located.”
“Apex Park is used a lot by families so upgrading the playground there makes a lot of sense, more so now with the new toilet facilities.”
The second announcement commits a future State Labor government to invest up to $530,000 to build a kiss and ride facility, all day car parking and provision for car parking for people living with disability at the Tambelin Railway Station.
The $530,000 will allow for the sealing of the carpark, kerbing and lighting.
Mr Piccolo said that the new carpark will improve safety, particularly at night, and make it disability friendly.
“We need to ensure that we improve infrastructure, so we encourage people to use public transport,” said Mr Piccolo.
“The increasing number of homes in the areas around Tambelin Railway Station means the standard of service infrastructure needs to be upgraded to meet growing needs.”