Hāpai Access cardholders will soon be able to use Dunedin City Council pools for $3 a week after councillors voted 13-2 to adopt Cr Mandy Mayhem’s motion during annual plan deliberations last Wednesday.
Emma Ferry raised the idea in her annual plan submission, saying reducing the cost of exercise would have a significant impact for the disabled community. It was supported by several other submissions.
Mrs Ferry, who was diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition about six years ago and is a regular pool user, said she was ‘‘so excited’’ by the councillors’ decision.
‘‘[My diagnosis has] definitely changed the way that I see living and see people with different needs struggling on a daily basis,’’ she said.
‘‘It just makes me feel really good that I’ve been able to help in a small, small way [and] kind of given back.’’
Linking the new fee to the Hāpai card, which indicates the barriers a disabled person may face in the community, made her feel the council had done its due diligence.
The card costs $45 plus GST for three years and requires medical documentation to obtain.
In the long term, Mrs Ferry believed the change would encourage more people into hydrotherapy and swimming, in turn reducing injuries and hospital stays.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Cr Mayhem said the move would support community wellbeing, ensuring that those living with a disability could ‘‘enjoy the aquatic facilities without the financial barrier’’.
Councillors were told by staff the change would have a minor impact on rates and council revenue.
A similar policy for free swimming in Tauranga ran into issues when staff were required to determine a person’s disability, in some cases leading to abuse, hence the use of the Hāpai card in Dunedin.
Cr Lee Vandervis, whose son is severely disabled, said he objected to ‘‘the idea disability equates with poverty’’.
‘‘I’m not sure that this is anything really other than some do-good kind of optics for the council to say ‘oh we’re looking after these poor disabled people’. They’re not all poor — most of them aren’t, in fact, that I know,’’ Cr Vandervis said.
‘‘Let’s do it because it doesn’t have a major impact but let’s not forget that letting this group essentially have near-free access means that the others will be paying for it.’’
Cr Mickey Treadwell said he was pleased the council could address a specific need communicated by the disability community.
He appreciated Cr Vandervis’ view on generalisation of the disabled community and their means, he said.
‘‘However, I would note that in this city we have the statistics to suggest that a higher proportion of people with disabilities are also in the lower income bracket, so from an equity perspective I think it does address that to some degree.’’
Crs Benedict Ong and Russell Lund voted against the motion, instead showing support for a similar proposal by Cr Ong, under which a range of disability documentation would have been accepted.
A council spokesman said the new fee would be in place from July 1.
