community - 2026-06-16

Northern Beaches Council Invites Community to Shape New Disability Inclusion Plan

A draft four-year plan to make the Northern Beaches more accessible for people with disability is on public exhibition until 5 July — and Council is asking residents to help shape it.

Northern Beaches Council has released a draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) for public consultation, calling on residents to help shape a four-year strategy aimed at making the region more accessible and inclusive for people living with disability. The draft plan, now on public exhibition until Sunday 5 July 2026, sets out Council's priorities across four key areas: creating safer and more liveable communities; expanding meaningful employment opportunities; improving Council systems and processes; and fostering positive community attitudes towards people with disability. More than 21 per cent of Australians currently live with disability, and the Northern Beaches is no exception. Council has acknowledged that the region's ageing population means disability will touch an increasing number of local lives in the years ahead, making the plan's long-term focus all the more important. The draft plan was developed through extensive community engagement, with input gathered from people living with disability, their families and carers, local support services, and the broader public. Participants shared their experiences across a wide range of ages and disability types,...