Piccadilly Community Hall gets an accessibility makeover
For over a century, the Piccadilly Community Hall has been a cornerstone of the Piccadilly Valley, cherished for its historical and cultural significance. Recently, the hall received one of 12 Recovery Ready Halls grants from the Adelaide Hills Council, aimed at preparing community-managed halls to serve as Recovery Support Hubs in emergencies.
With assistance from this grant, the hall committee constructed an accessibility ramp and new entry doors, with a view to improving compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act. The Adelaide Hills Council also provided an onsite assessment from an experienced access design consultant.
We were very aware there was a portion of the local community who found it difficult or impossible to access the hall. Bringing the hall in line with modern accessibility standards was important, not only for people with disabilities but to ensure that individuals who support them feel welcome and can enjoy the space as well."
The new accessibility features will be showcased when the committee holds its next open day & working bee. Additionally, both the Australian and South Australian Electoral Commissions have been informed of the upgrades, making the hall a potential polling booth location.
Looking ahead, the hall committee will continue to seek opportunities for disability access improvements and will look at future funding based on their comprehensive accessibility audit.
Adelaide Hills Council were fantastic in facilitating design and heritage considerations and being patient with the group, knowing we are a volunteer-based organization. It was great to have the support of council.”