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Disability access requirements for new buildings

Future public buildings in Warringah &endash; including nursing homes, daycare centres, retirement villages, shops and offices &endash; will feature dramatically improved access for people with disabilities. Planning requirements for builders are now clearly set out in a Council brochure.

Mayor Peter Moxham said Council's new 'Access Success' brochure will help building applicants obtain planning permission for proposed projects.

It will assist them to draw up plans that comply with the Federal Disability Discrimination Act as well as current building codes. The brochure will also help ensure that new public buildings better meet the needs of older people and parents with children, as well as those with disabilities.

"Under the Federal Disability Discrimination Act, it is illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability by failing to provide them adequate access to public places," Councillor Moxham said.

"However, in the past, many developers, builders and architects have been baffled by the disability access requirements of the Act and building code regulations. This brochure addresses that issue."

Warringah Council's Disability Development Officer, Jordana Goodman, said the Access Success brochure focused on the following main topics.

• What is 'Access' about?
• What is a disability?
• A quick 'Access' checklist
• The consequences of failing to comply with the Federal Disability Discrimination Act, Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standard 1428.

"The brochure advises and educates builders, developers and architects on how best to design and construct public buildings that meet the basic needs of people with disabilities," Jordana Goodman said.

"It will also ensure that future public buildings will be easy to use, convenient and safe for people with disabilities."

Copies of the brochure are handed to applicants when they ask for Building Certificates at Council's Customer Service Desk. Copies were also mailed out to 40 builders, developers and architects who lodge building applications with Council regularly.

The brochure is available at Council's web site at www.warringah.nsw.gov.au.

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