Fishing platform for disabled opened at Dead Finish Beach near Augusta

27/2/99
The creation of a truly accessible community will take another step forward this afternoon when Disability Services Minister Paul Omodei opens a fishing platform for people with disabilities at Dead Finish Beach near Augusta.
"This platform has easy road and wheelchair access and is another example of the commitment of the State Government, local governments and community organisations to the on-going task of making our entire community accessible to people with disabilities and their families," said Mr Omodei, who is also the MLA for Warren-Blackwood.
"The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River organised the platform, the State Government contributed funds, and the Lions Club of Leeuwin did most of the labour.
"The State's $13,000 contribution was approved by Fisheries Minister Monty House on the recommendation of the South West Regional Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee."
Mr Omodei said that all Government departments and local governments had been required to prepare disabled access plans and they were now implementing them.
Western Australia had become the leading State in Australia in creating an accessible community as well as in the provision of other services to people with disabilities and their families.
The Minister said recreational fishing was a huge pastime, with Fisheries WA estimating that about 600,000 Western Australians went fishing at least once a year.
As well as being a very popular recreation it was also a valuable industry with anglers spending upwards of $400 million a year, a quarter of it on boats alone.
It was a significant part of domestic and overseas tourism and therefore a valuable contributor to regional economies.
"Communities which commit themselves to access for people with disabilities will benefit from their compassion because when people with disabilities are excluded by lack of access so are their families," Mr Omodei said.
Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6705

Footnote: Dead Finish Beach is so named because the adjacent water was known as Dead Finish Anchorage because it was the last place to get a safe anchorage when on-shore winds made Flinders Bay unsafe for ships.