Wollongong City Council and The Cram Foundation are ensuring the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Wollongong Harbour can be enjoyed by all. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Registrations are now open for an accessible viewing area at Wollongong’s New Year’s Eve event to ensure the celebrations can be enjoyed by all, including those with accessibility requirements.
Wollongong City Council and disability support services provider The Cram Foundation have once again teamed up to secure front-row seats to the 9 pm fireworks display for people with disability or other accessibility challenges.
Staged at Belmore Basin, the viewing area has been around for years but will grow in size this year to accommodate up to 100 people.
For The Cram Foundation, it’s about “inclusion always” for people with disability, according to CEO Alisha Musker.
“Cram participants look forward to New Year’s Eve fireworks like everybody else,” she said.
“Year on year, for the past four years, we’ve worked with the events team, providing feedback and we’ve seen it grow and improve to have a really exciting New Year’s Eve for people of all abilities.
“We’ve also seen the addition of accessible bathrooms, increasing food options and roaming entertainment so that the event is exciting and inclusive for all to enjoy.”
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown said the growth of the platform was in response to increasing demand, with spaces expected to book out ahead of the registration closing date.
“It’s become more and more popular over the years, and now we have quite a large area down on the flat so everyone can be accommodated,” she said.
“The platform is positioned at a prime location, so families with disabilities have the best view of the fireworks here on New Year’s Eve.
“I was here a couple of years ago with friends in wheelchairs and we tried to squeeze in, but of course it was packed. We never thought to let people know. Now with The Cram Foundation on board, we’re making a focus on disability inclusion in our New Year’s Eve celebrations, which I think is wonderful.”
Road closures allow the council to transform the harbour into one big celebration zone from around 5 pm. At Lang Park, visitors can expect rides and carnival elements, while Osborne Park will be packed with food trucks and roaming entertainment and activities will be dotted all around the harbour.
“I encourage everyone to come on down,” Cr Brown said.
Alicia Boyle, regional manager for platinum sponsors ForHealth Group said representatives would be there on the night to spread the word about their medical centres in Dapto and Corrimal, complete with urgent care clinics that were open 365 days a year including New Year’s Eve and Day, when many facilities were closed.
“We were sponsors last year as well. The disability inclusion area booked out before the evening started. We were down on the foreshore enjoying the evening and it was just amazing to watch families roll in, enjoy the rides and food trucks and then, when the fireworks went off, everyone was at attention,” she said.
“Getting in and out is actually really easy with all the street closures. You’ve got to plan your parking, but other than that it’s a wonderful evening for all.”
Register now until Monday 16 December for the Accessible Viewing Area at Wollongong’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Loading ...
