Griffith City Council will look to set up a system allowing free access to keys for the city's public disabled bathrooms after a notice of motion was carried at Tuesday's Council meeting.
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Councillor Anne Napoli put forward the notice of motion at the meeting, which was seconded by Councillor Deb Longhurst, with the motion recommending "that council, will make available a free Master Locksmith Access Key to eligible people with a disability and their carers and that $2,000 per year be made available from community grants to allow eligible people to take up this offer. If any funds are left over, that money to be rolled over and to be used for any other equipment or services that are identified by Council or the community specifically for Disability purposes."
Cr Napoli said the proposal followed media reports and feedback into the locking of the bathrooms on a 24 hour basis and the motion would be seen as a gesture of good will.
"We really need to look after the most vulnerable members of our community," Cr Napoli said.
"People have come up to me and said they were unable to get it through their plan.
"The intent of this is for them to have their own key... rather than to think, 'Oh, I need to go to the toilet in about 15, 20 minutes so I'll have to go and find the visitors center and get a key', it wouldn't be practical.
"Still a lot of people are not aware that they can get a key, so I hope this will at least generate some sort of publicity and awareness and hopefully we wont get anymore negative feedback from visitors coming to town."
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Councillor Glen Andreazza questioned what the proposed $2,000 would be spent on, asking if the funds would be set aside "to get keys cut" before inquiring as to the standard value of the key.
Upon being told by Councillor Mike Neville the value of the key was $20.20, mayor John Dal Broi asked if the funds spent purchasing a key is recoverable through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Cr Neville said it was if the person had a plan under the NDIS before objecting to the proposal.
"This is a gesture and I just wonder how far it will go at the end of the day because the onus really I believe should be on the individual," Cr Neville said.
"In a perfect world we wouldn't have to use locks... personally I think it's not too much to ask for an individual at the current rate to spend $20.20 for a key they will use if they are eligible in perpetuity.
"I understand where Councillor Napoli is coming from, but I find it difficult to support it personally."
Cr Andreazza raised concerns about any system being put in place where users are reimbursed for their purchasing of the key and said while he was not against the concept, at "that sort of value it could become open to abuse."
Councillor Brian Simpson welcomed the proposal and said council would need to take steps to ensure any system put in place was not abused.
"If council were to do this, it would need to keep a register of those they have given the keys out to to stop the system being gamed," Cr Simpson said.
Cr Simpson also said the use of the community grants program to fund the keys was a good addition as it will provide a chance to further discuss disabled issues on a regular basis.
"I like to see the Community grants program is targeting a specific section of the community and will create some good discussion regarding any unspent funds," Cr Simpson said.
"I think we might have excess funds each year with which to do more for disability services in the region."
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