SOME of us love nothing more than heading down to the water to throw in a line and wile away the hours in an attempt to catch a fish, but for the elderly and people with disability, recreational fishing may not a past-time that can be easily enjoyed.
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To mark this year's International Day of People with Disability Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is cutting the ribbon on a new wheelchair accessible fishing platform at Dunbogan Reserve.
The opening event will be held today, Wednesday, from 10am with music and art and craft activities with the official launch at 11am and from 11.15am you can have a go at fishing and then enjoy a free sausage sizzle. The council received $100,000 through a grant made available by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts to build a fishing platform catering for all needs. The platform was constructed by the council's bridge building team and is available for the public. Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling said the location of the fishing platform was located at a great spot for fishing.
"The wheelchair accessible fishing platform is fantastic initiative located within a parkland where there is a nearby fish scaling table, wheelchair accessible toilet's, picnic tables, community hall and playground all in the same area," Cr Besseling said.
"The accessible fishing platform will enable our seniors to keep on fishing and not be socially isolated at home and will also enable people with disability and their carers to enjoy recreational fishing too."
The project was supported by the Hastings Access Sub-Committee, Port Macquarie-Hastings Disability Interagency Network, the Laurieton United Services Fishing Club and the Laurieton Hotel Fishing Club.
This official opening of the platform will include the launch of Council's Disability Strategy.
This strategy represents Council's commitment to improve the quality of life now and for future generations and recognises the fundamental right of all our citizens to have the opportunity to participate socially, culturally, economically, physically and politically in the life of their community. The FishAbility event is an open invitation, so anyone can attend, and includes music by the Laurieton Ukulele Club, Laurieton Voices and Laurieton Primary School Band.
