Maroondah’s Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers provides an opportunity for the community to raise access and inclusion concerns directly with Maroondah City Council. The forum is held on a quarterly basis and often includes updates from Maroondah City Council, transport providers and government.

Maroondah is currently revising its Disability Policy and Action Plan and a workshop is planned for early 2008 to review the forum and its role in enhancing accessibility. The workshop will examine how Council can ensure stronger engagement for people with disabilities and to provide an opportunity for feedback in regard to the Disability Policy and its corresponding Action Plan.

The forum also included a presentation from one of its members in regard to the need for a direct bus service along Mount Dandenong Road connecting Ringwood Station to Maroondah Hospital, as well as Karralyka and Croydon. The current bus services do not provide a direct service to the hospital making it difficult to access the services provided at Maroondah Hospital and the nearby health precinct.

The State Government has announced a review of bus services to be undertaken over the next few years and it is hoped that a new bus route along Mount Dandenong Road will be included as part of this process. Maroondah Council must collate this feedback, such as new routes that are required, to ensure that public transport is able to meet the needs of its community.

I would like to thank the regular participants within the Maroondah Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers. The forum has initiated a number of significant improvements to accessibility, including the Scoot Wheel N Move working group, improvements to a number of pedestrian crossings and continued advocacy over the need to upgrade Ringwood Station.