Other stakeholders include the RTA, Telstra and other utilities. Many councils now employ a Pedestrian Safety Officer, who can liaise with the RTA, especially in relation to traffic lights. The development of the Marrickville plan was an evolutionary process which was constantly reviewed and refined by the Access Committee. Marrickville Council's experience can assist other councils to develop Master Plans for Accessible Pathways in a more co-ordinated and planned way. Accessible Pathways benefits the whole community including people with a vision impairment, people using wheelchairs, ambulant people with mobility disabilities, as well as parents with strollers and older people.
Good design is of benefit to everyone.
Many residents commented on the freedom experienced by using the designated pathways. The Australian Local Government Association has recognised the Marrickville model and promoted it as a best practice accessible pathways model. A network of Accessible Pathways to enable ease of movement throughout the Local Government Area. Councils could successfully address these responsibilities by including the development of accessible pathways within a Disability Discrimination Act Action Plan. Appropriate sources of funding still need to be sought to support a co-ordinated approach to integrating local accessible pathways into a broader regional and metropolitan network.