Published on Friday, 19 December 2025 at 11:39:26 AM
Reaffirming our commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive community, the Shire of Denmark’s new five-year Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2024–2029 was endorsed by Council, setting out ambitious goals to remove barriers and ensure people with disability have equal access to Shire services, facilities, information, and employment opportunities.
The DAIP was shaped by contributions from the Shire’s Accessibility Working Group, as well as extensive community consultation, which included forums, surveys, and workshops. From these community submissions, along with the feedback from our working group, three key priorities were identified.
Communication and collaboration will be improved to provide people with disability better engagement with the Shire. We will enhance our service delivery to create a welcoming environment by upgrading the accessibility and inclusivity of our programs, events, buildings, and facilities. Finally, we aim to strengthen Shire staff skills and knowledge by offering ongoing training and resources to support inclusivity and create accessible employment opportunities.
Shire President Aaron Wiggins said the DAIP is an essential guiding document for Council and Shire staff in ensuring our whole community feels included.
“I acknowledge that we are and have been far from perfect in disability access and inclusion, but we keep moving forward and have taken great strides in recent years,” Cr Wiggins said.
Work has already commenced on delivering outcomes to these priorities, such as the accessibility upgrades to the Mokare Heritage Trail, which were completed earlier this year. Funding has also been allocated to improve the accessibility conditions of our footpath network in the Denmark CBD, and to purchase and install outdoor fitness equipment at Peaceful Bay, as outlined in the 2025/26 Annual Budget.
The Shire also continues to pursue external funding to deliver disability access to the redeveloped Ocean Beach precinct, and our ‘Something for Everyone’ initiative aims to offer diverse and inclusive programs at the Recreation Centre to all our community members over the next five years.
“From our planning and construction works, to our funding and day-to-day operations, I hope now that the goals set out in the DAIP become ingrained in everything we do. I commend and thank all those who have contributed to creating it.”
The DAIP will be implemented across all Shire operations and tracked annually, with a comprehensive review scheduled for completion by 31 December 2029, and is now available to view on the Shire’s website.
IMPORTANT LINKS
https://www.denmark.wa.gov.au/our-community/community-life/accessibility.aspx
Back to All News