Time to think about future

With the year beginning to settle back to what we could perhaps call a more normal routine, it seems a good time to think about the future.

That said, we all have one thing in common, regardless of who we are, or what we do. We are all ageing. It would make a lot of sense if our awareness focussed on the whole length of our lives rather than only the here and now. Why? Simply because none of us can foretell what the rest of our lives might bring.

Ka¯ piti has over 28 per cent of its residents over 65. Statistics show that around 45 per cent of those over 65 will have some sort of disability — around 6000 for Ka¯ piti alone.

This then begs the question. Are we all doing our best to try to make sure Ka¯ piti is a district that works for us now and into the future?

To something different — over the holidays I have noticed that many more people have been visiting Coastlands and the adjacent public areas.

I say that because as a mobility parking permit holder I am entitled to use the designated parking spaces. Over the holiday period the demand for these spaces was high and I couldn't always find one.

That said, there appears to be the correct allocation of mobility parking spaces as set out in the New Zealand Standards

Document, but perhaps this might call for a rethink as to whether there could be ‘temporary' mobility parking spaces at high demand locations during public holiday times in particular.

This begs the question relating to the ‘why' we need to be concerned over this type of issue. Ka¯ piti residents have indicated that ‘accessibility' is a very important issue especially when it relates to district planning.

Looking at accessibility from the aspect of catering for people using wheelchairs, level entry becomes critical.

That brings me back almost to where I started. Not only should public planning include aspects that cater for everyone in a variety of stages of physical capability but our homes need to reflect this too — starting with level-entry.

Wouldn't it be great if all future planning of residential dwellings recognised the need to plan for all levels of mobility.

It might cost a little more at the outset but it would be so much cheaper than retro-fitting.

In other words — do it once and do it right!