Moreton Bay Ready to Embrace ‘Year of Accessible Tourism’
Published 04 November 2022
Moreton Bay Council has welcomed the Premier’s announcement that 2023 will be the ‘Year of Accessible Tourism’, having spent recent years investing heavily in accessible infrastructure.
Mayor Peter Flannery said he was keen to get a share of the $12 million on offer to grow accessible tourism product offerings and encourage existing operators to become more accessible.
“Twenty per cent of people in Moreton Bay live with some form of disability and many parts of our region have a significant proportion of elderly residents, so providing accessible infrastructure for everyone is something very close to my heart,” he said.
“Moreton Bay region has long been a friendly place for people of all abilities to call home and feel welcomed without discrimination, but there’s always more we can do to continually improve our standards.
“I’m proud to say both Bribie Island and Redcliffe boast accessible beach matting to enable wheelchairs and mobility scooters to access our waters.
“I was thrilled when our All-Abilities Playground at Leslie Patrick Park in Arana Hills was named the top place to play in Queensland by Parks and Leisure Australia. We will also build an All-Abilities Playground at Centenary Lakes in Caboolture and we’re designing a new playground for Pine Rivers Park which will also include new adult changing facilities.
“Last year we were one of the first Councils to act on the State Government’s call for a zero tolerance policy towards illegally parking in disability bays, and we doubled the fine from $266 to $533.
“This year we’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars building Adult Changing Places and new bathrooms, as well as upgrading Council facilities to ensure they’re in line with modern accessibility standards.
“Even before coming to visit Moreton Bay, you can jump online and do a virtual tour of all our cultural venues (libraries, galleries, museums) to pre-plan your visit and ensure we have suitable amenities prior to arriving.
“So I will certainly be doing whatever I can to ensure Moreton Bay isn’t overlooked for funding for projects and initiatives for accessible tourism in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
“I would love our 2032 legacy to be one that brings our accessibility standards up to par or better than anywhere else in the world and that visitors go home telling their family and friends about how great our region is for accessibility.
“While we’re on this journey to make Moreton Bay one of the most accessible, I’m also well aware of the challenges people with disabilities face every day and we still have a long way to go.
“Moreton Bay’s tourism market is worth over $1 billion to our local economy, but I know we’re missing a huge market of people who wants to travel but they need more accessibility.
“I hope we can seize this opportunity to make Moreton Bay and South East Queensland a world-leading destination for accessible tourism long into the future.”
For more information on the Premier’s announcement, please visit: Tourism plan for Queensland’s golden decade to 2032 - Ministerial Media Statements