Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP today said playspaces for everyone, young and old, and of all abilities, are a step closer with the release of new draft design guidelines for the NSW Government’s $20 million Everyone Can Play initiative.
“I’m delighted to invite the community to provide feedback on our ‘Everyone Can Play’ draft design guidelines, to help us create world-class playspaces that are inclusive and accessible for everyone,” Ms Cooke said.
“We’re backing this initiative with $20 million to build new playgrounds in communities that currently do not have them, and to fund upgrades to existing playgrounds to ensure they have the most engaging and inclusive equipment.
“The Cootamundra electorate is already such a great place to live but we want to make sure that everyone here has access to world class playspaces, regardless of age or ability,” Ms Cooke said.
NSW Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts said for playspaces to be considered inclusive they needed to be easy to access, easy to move around in, and equipped with appropriate amenities, in a comfortable environment.
“NSW is home to 1.3 million people living with a disability, an ageing population increasingly involved in the everyday care of grandkids, and a diverse cultural mix, so our playspaces need to provide an inclusive experience for all,” Mr Roberts said.
“We are a Government that cares about the community and that’s why we want to ensure open space, parks, outdoor recreation areas and playspaces are able to be enjoyed by everybody equally.
“We encourage people creating or upgrading playspaces to design and build them in alignment with the guidelines once they are finalised through community consultation.”
NSW Commissioner of Open Space and Parklands, Fiona Morrison said this was a further opportunity for people to inform the draft inclusive playspace guidelines developed by State and Local Government, playspaces designers and the community.
“The draft guidelines are based on three simple questions: Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay? We want these questions to be front-and-centre in the minds of everyone involved in creating and modernising playspaces across NSW,” she said.
The draft guidelines will be on public exhibition until September 21, 2018.
To view the guide and provide feedback, visit: http://planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/Open-space-and-parklands/Everyone-Can-Play-in-NSW
