New accessibility plans for the Gold Coast region

Plans are underway to make life on the Gold Coast more accessible for all, which is good news if you are considering a Surfers Paradise property investment. 

Whether you are a new parent, a senior citizen or you have a disability, all Gold Coast residents will benefit from the Accessible and Inclusive City Action Plan 2014-2019. According to the document, which was published this month, 92,000 Gold Coast residents had a disability, and approximately 75,000 were over the age of 65.

The current population of the Gold Coast was 526,173 in 2011 – and within two decades, it is estimated that senior citizens will account for 20.2 per cent of the city's residents.

This means that it is important to take action now to ensure that property in Surfers Paradise can be enjoyed by all residents in the years to come. In response to changing population demographics, the City of Gold Coast has pledged to undertake a total of 170 actions from 2014 until 2019 to ensure the municipality can be enjoyed by everyone.

Some of the targeted actions in the plan include making city pathways more accessible to people pushing prams and wheelchair users. Residents will also benefit from improved access to public transportation for senior citizens. Further measures include disability awareness training for individuals who work in public-facing roles.