Access Advisory Committee

Community consultation is achieved through the Access Advisory Committee, which reports to the Authority's Chief Executive Officer. The Committee comprises members drawn from peak disability groups and agencies, private consultancies as well as personnel from the Authority. The Committee generally meets 3-4 times a year.

The role of the Access Advisory Committee is to provide the Authority with advice, including recommendations for appropriate strategies and actions, on a broad range of matters relating to the assessment and management of equitable access provisions and facilities for persons with a disability at Sydney Olympic Park.

All SOPA developments at Sydney Olympic Park are required to be presented to the Committee who may endorse the proposal with or without the consideration of additional or appropriate access requirements.

As at January 2009, the Access Advisory Committee comprised the following members;

• Ms Jean Halcrow (Chair)
• Ms Kathleen Brewster
• Ms Ann Gibson
• Ms Christina Hinchliffe
• Mr Glenn Redmayne
• Mr Mark Relf
• Ms Fiona Wilson-Jones (SOPA)
  

Access Advisory Committee Achievements 2007-2008

November 2008

• Committee acknowledged the Authority’s draft Disability Action Plan 2009-2013 and resolved to complete reviews by end of November 2008.  Final Action Plan endorsed by SOPA’s Chief Executive Officer in December 2008.
• Committee supported the final draft of the Access Guidelines 2nd Edition 2008 and the Temporary Overlay for Events Access Guidelines 1st Edition 2008 and recommend that both Guidelines be adopted by the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer.
• Committee reviewed update on current access audit of public spaces and requested opportunity to review the audit when completed. 
• Committee presented with an update on Universal Housing.
• Operational issues pertaining to additional provisions planned and implemented for the Andre Rieu World Tour concerts at ANZ Stadium.  Provisions included additional messaging and bus drop-off points, support staff, golf carts for emergency transport assistance and wheelchair loan provisions. 
• Acknowledged the request for SOPA to sponsor the “2009 Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open” at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre to the amount of $5,000.  Recommendation of support made to the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer.
  

July 2008

• Endorsed Armory Wharf Cafe proposal subject to some design amendments.
• Further modifications made to the draft SOPA Access Guidelines and Access Guidelines for Temporary Overlay for Events.  Final revisions to be presented at the November 2008 committee meeting.  
• Committee acknowledges the work to be carried out on updating the authority’s Disability Action Plan. 
• Endorsed Site 22 Quest Services Apartments proposal subject to some design amendments.
• Endorsed revised Yulang Pub proposal subject to some design amendments.
• Committee presented with overview of the draft Masterplan for Sydney Olympic Park 2030.
  

March 2008

• Recommended that SOPA sponsor the “2008 Sydney Special Needs Children’s Christmas Party” to be held at Sydney Showground for a value of $4,500. 
• Endorsed proposed Site 13 Commercial Building proposal subject to some design amendments. 
• Committee reviewed latest draft changes to Access Guidelines following previous workshops with Consultants.  
• SOPA’s Capital Works, Public Domain and Asset Programs Division presented concept of an access audit of public areas.  Committee recommended support of the audit, subject to an access consultant’s report being submitted to the committee when available.
• Committee acknowledged the benefits of a recent address to SOPA’s Visitors Services staff and volunteers by Mr Matt Laffan on visitor experience assistance. 
• Presentation given to committee on accessibility issues and service provisions provided by SOPA at public events.
  

November 2007

• Mr Mark Relf (representing Association of Consultants in Access, Australia Inc) joined the committee.
  
• Ms Christina Hinchliffe joined the committee representing Vision Australia (replacing Ms Ebru Sumaktas).
  
• Endorsed proposed Site 8 Commercial Building proposal subject to some design amendments.
  
• Committee reviewed the current SREP24 Exempt Development Consent process in association to compliance with SOPA’s Access Guidelines 2002.  Recommended that where relevant, access consultants should be requested to sign-off on the completion of the works.
• Acknowledged the request for SOPA to sponsor the “2008 Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open” at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre to the amount of $5,000.

July 2007

• Endorsed new Site 9 Sports Hospital proposal subject to some design amendments.
• Commenced review of the SOPA Access Guidelines.  Workshops arranged to review draft Guidelines as available.  Presentation on Access Guidelines made by Access Associates Australia Pty Ltd.
  
• Replacement Committee members to be considered to compliment the skills of the current membership.

March 2007

• Endorsed Development Jacaranda Square landscaping and public domain works subject to some minor design considerations.
  
• Endorsed internal design modifications to the Development Site 4b.
  
• Reviewed kerb-ramp designs within Sydney Olympic Park.
  
• Endorsed a Brickpit Ring maintenance building as a public viewing proposal subject to the view experience being provided at the ground level of the building.
  
• Committee discussed the Authority’s proposal to prepare a new version of the 2002 Access Guidelines and the opportunity of including accessibility provisions into the guideline format for public events at Sydney Olympic Park.