Footpath dining policy up for adoption

A report to Gosford Council has recommended the adoption of a proposed Footway-Outdoor Dining Policy, subject to provisions for vision impaired people.

The council will consider the report at its meeting tonight (Tuesday).

Council at a meeting in November considered a report and revised policy on footpath and outdoor dining and resolved that council agree to a simplified generic licence agreement, rather than a formal lease.

The initial application fee for investigation of the proposed outdoor dining area and preparation of the licence agreement was to be $100.

The fee would be refundable if the application was not approved.

A fee of $22 a chair per year would apply to the outdoor dining areas.

With the adoption of the new policy, Council officers will be encouraged to enforce the new policy and instigate an education program to ensure that the policy is being enforced.

Proprietors will be given three months to remove light-weight resin furniture.

Money raised through the policy will be spent on footpath cleaning and maintenance in the area.

The amended policy was advertised for a period of 28 days until January 10.

Four submissions were received, three objecting to the amended policy and one in favour.

In the report to tonight's council meeting, the council's disability services officer wrote: "Consideration of the needs of people who are blind or have a vision impairment must be given when developing an Alfresco Dining Policy.

"For a person who is blind or vision impaired to negotiate their way around our community they 'shoreline'.

"They position themselves on the building line and follow it with their cane or hand.

"The building line is able to provide them with a way of locating themselves in the environment and assists with locating shop entrances and street corners.

"It is extremely important that the building line is kept clear of any obstacles, including street furniture, in order that people with vision impairment or blindness can utilise the building line.

"The building line is also used as a directional indicator and tells people with vision impairment or blindness where kerb ramps and pedestrian crossings are located, without access to the building line people can quickly become disoriented.

"People with a vision impairment or blindness must be accorded the same rights of access as any other person as outlined in the Disability Discrimination Act of 1993.

"The suite of Australian Standards 1428.1-4 requires an 'uninterrupted path of travel to or within a building', providing access to all required facilities.'

"It is essential to minimise the distances people with disabilities are required to travel as they fatigue much more quickly than people without disabilities.

"The location of outdoor dining furniture and other obstacles on the kerbside of the footpath enables people to follow the most direct route in a safe manner."

Council officers have recommended that council adopt the policy as presented, subject to any new applications being able to meet the requirements of those matters raised by council's disability services officer.

Council Agenda FS.015, January 28