The ACT Labor-Greens government has failed to upgrade the disability parking at Hughes shops to current standards despite promising to do so by the end of November 2023.

Last year, Shadow Minister for City Services, and Shadow Minister for Seniors Nicole Lawder wrote to then Minister for City Services Chris Steel expressing concern that there had been a number of falls in the car park involving seniors at Hughes Shops.

The suburb of Hughes has an ageing population, and while it was one of the first suburbs to have changes made for an age-friendly city, the parking at the shops was not upgraded to current disability standards. In addition, Hughes hosts COTA ACT, U3A, and the Alchemy (Dementia) Chorus so older Canberrans are frequent visitors to the site.

“I have been told of a number of fall accidents involving the ramps, or lack of, in the parking area,” Ms Lawder said.

“The Minister assured me that Chevron areas, bollards, and pram ramps would be installed by November 2023. However, it is upsetting to see that to date nothing has been done to improve the disability parking.

“As we progress towards the end of January, seniors will start returning to various programs at Hughes, so this has been an opportunity missed to upgrade the parking arrangements for safer use by people with disability, and seniors.

“This is why the Canberra Liberals have announced the $100 million “Putting your suburb first policy” that will prioritise basic local services and amenities that have long been neglected by Labor and the Greens.

“The time is well overdue for the government to take this issue seriously and deliver some results in this space since it’s a high safety issue,” Ms Lawder concluded.