Accessible infrastructure for all Territorians is a priority of the Territory Government.
Maningrida Progress Association has received a $63,000 Community Support Grant to install a wheelchair lifter at Maningrida Airport.
The installation of a wheelchair lifter will provide safe access for boarding aircraft for community members.
Maningrida Progress Association is striving to make Maningrida Airport more functional and passenger-friendly for community members, and having safer access to aircraft will make it easier for people living with disability to travel for medical and social reasons.
The purpose of the Community Support Grant is to provide financial assistance to individuals, community groups and organisations in the Northern Territory to promote participation in our communities and improve social connections between people of different backgrounds, language groups, genders and ages.
Maningrida Airport will now work to progress the installation of the new wheelchair lifter.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Disabilities, Ngaree Ah Kit:
"Making sure we have accessible infrastructure is so important and, through our Disability Strategy, the Territory Government is working to create accessible infrastructure for all Territorians.
"It is great to support the Maningrida Progress Association to deliver important outcomes for the Maningrida community."
Quotes attributable to Member for Arafura, Manuel Brown:
"This new wheelchair lifter is a much needed piece of infrastructure for the Maningrida community, and I'm proud to be the local Member whose Government is delivering this for them.
"There are a number of community members living with disability who are currently unable to access aircraft safely - this addition to the community will be highly utilised."
Quotes attributable to Maningrida Progress Association CEO, Ian McLay:
"Maningrida community members living with a disability or who are elderly cannot access aviation services without a wheelchair lifter.
"It is an aspiration of MPA to continuously strive for local employment. The wheelchair lifter will enable more local people to be engaged in training in its operation and more opportunities for jobs at the Maningrida Airport.
"MPA would like to see continuous improvements at Maningrida Airport. Maningrida is a big place and continues to grow, and the services need to grow with it."
Minister for Disabilities, Ngaree Ah Kit, Member for Arafura, Manuel Brown, Maningrida Progress Association Chairman, Shane Namanurki and Maningrida Progress Association CEO, Ian McLay at Maningrida Airport.
Northern Territory Government