Garden Village resident and MS sufferer Carol Churchill has called on Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to rectify a flawed footpath fronting the retirement village complex.
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She says the gradient of the footpath running east toward Hastings River Drive is too steep.
Work on the footpath network was completed in October 2018 and Ms Churchill says any resident, particularly those with mobility issues, find the footpath difficult to navigate.
Carol's calls have gained support from Garden Village's operations manager Cassie Simadas.
She says Garden Village has a great working relationship with the council.
"We know the council is community focused," she said.
"Some simple modifications to this path would benefit the local senior community enabling ease of access.
"Garden Village is happy to advise and work with council on a solution," she said.
But a council spokesperson has admitted "there is no perfect outcome".
"The developer had several site constraints to work with," the spokesperson said.
"Existing underground services and the natural gradient of the land in this location meant that the footpath was not constructed to the gradient outlined in the Australian Standards.
Existing underground services and the natural gradient of the land in this location meant that the footpath was not constructed to the gradient outlined in the Australian Standards.
- Council spokesperson
"Council development engineers assessed the original designs and constructed works influenced by these existing conditions, accepted the non-compliant gradient and proceeded with the construction of the path as there were no other suitable alternatives identified.
"This is not uncommon in Port Macquarie given the terrain in much of the area. As an added safety measure the footpath was constructed with a landing platform to the north of the kerb ramp.
"This allows pedestrians to consider whether the path is safe to transit along, in the safety of a location separated from the road.
"Unfortunately, in situations like these there is no perfect outcome and council worked within the site constraints to ensure the best possible results for the community."
But Mrs Churchill remains unrepentant.
"The path has been in place since it was completed in October. It is just too steep.
"I was in a motorised wheelchair and I almost tipped out trying to go up the slope.
"Even coming down is difficult to manoeuvre," she said.
Mrs Churchill said she had "no idea" how a Garden Village staff member or relative would be trying to push a resident in a wheelchair.
The resident said Garden Village was a facility catering to the aged and people with mobility difficulties.
"This is just crazy," she said.
Mrs Churchill said he had approached Garden Village management, council and Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams for assistance.
"I just don't think it is right," she added.
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