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“Labor supports more community amenity and infrastructure.”​

 

1. Bring back the heart of the community in the Bay

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Across the Shire there are ten community halls in Narooma, Dalmeny, Bodalla, Tuross, Moruya (three), Tomakin, Malua Bay. and Durras South.

However, since 2001 there has not been a community centre and hall in Batemans Bay – the largest population centre.

In the year before it was closed it had been used by more than 120 groups, and 15 community groups hired the centre on a weekly basis.

A petition to keep the centre gathered over a thousand signatures, but the closure went ahead anyway to save money. 

The other community halls in the Shire generally have limited facilities, and are of no use to community groups needing a meeting place in Batemans Bay.

A Labor Council will establish a community centre in the Bay.

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2. Youth centres 

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While Council funds pre-schools and recreational activities for children, there is a serious lack of facilities for our teenagers.  

While Council used to provide youth cafés, these have now been replaced by a youth van. 

The Narooma Youth Café is now run by Southern Cross Housing, but there are no permanent facilities in the other town centres.

This needs to change. It’s a social justice issue.  As well as mobile services, our teenagers need permanent inside spaces where they can meet their friends and hang out. These facilities could also be used by health, domestic violence, and other services to provide pop-up clinics.

A Labor Council will secure funding to provide permanent meeting places for our teenagers. 

 

3. Disability access

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We know the Bay Pavilion’s disabled parking is such a trek away from the facility that many residents just don’t go there.

We know that the Bay Pavilion’s showering and changing facilities are inadequate for the needs of our disabled. Many go home to shower because there isn’t a disabled shower available.

We know we have a large number of retirees who have a disability parking sticker, but there aren’t enough disability parking spots to meet demand during the year (and it is far worse during the summer holidays).

People have told us poor disabled access is an issue in many areas across the Shire, The lack of a pedestrian crossing at Narooma is dangerous for the disabled and unaccompanied children.

This needs to change, so that people with a disability aren’t subject to isolation or danger. 

A Labor Council will meet with residents and do a Shire-wide audit, and then ensure there is enough disability parking/access in the right places to meet need. 

We will also ensure that all Shire facilities meet the needs of people with a disability for access and useability.

 

4. Footpath accessibility 

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Safe footpaths are an essential community amenity for people with a disability, older people, and those with children in prams or strollers. 

However, there are many gaps in our footpath ‘network’, and there are many older footpaths disrupted by tree roots and other obstacles.

For example, people wanting to walk from Batehaven to the wonderful new lookout and gardens at Observation Point need to cross Beach Road without a refuge island".

The pathway next to George Bass Drive in Malua Bay is affected by seepage for a week after any rain, which leads to patches of slippery green slime.

The footpath from Caseys Beach to Batehaven is uneven and too narrow and overgrown for safe use by mobility scooters. 

A Labor Council will consult residents and do a Shire-wide audit to find and prioritise problems, and then set about filling the gaps and fixing the problems.