Grant Funding for Accessible Change Facility

20 July 2022

The Shire has secured funding for the construction of a certified ‘Changing Places’ accessible change facility as part of the refurbishment to the Margaret River Recreation Centre’s pool, cafe and gym areas.

Supported by the Department of Communities Office of Disability, the grant represents a significant investment of $170,000 for the accessible facility, under the expanding network of Changing Places program.

The facility, designed by consulting architects Gresley Abas, will be the first of its kind in the Margaret River region, with the closest facilities currently located in Bunbury, Collie, Katanning and Albany.

Once completed, it will provide visitors with high support needs, access to a public change facility and the chance to be included in swim and recreation activities which may not otherwise have been easy or even possible.

The Changing Places facility inside the Margaret River Recreation Centre has been advocated for by the Shire’s Community Access and Inclusion Reference Group (CAIRG) and will include an accessible toilet, shower, wash basin, privacy screen and an adult change table with a roof mounted hoist.

The facility will be available for use during Recreation Centre opening hours and is expected to be ready once the Recreation Centre refurbishment is complete. Any member of the community or visitor to the area, will be more than welcome to take advantage of it.

Following its construction, the facility will be independently certified to meet the Changing Places standards for accessible adult change facilities and will be placed on the National Public Toilet Map and the Changing Places location register.

To find out more about the planned Changing Places facility, contact Manager of Major Projects Chris Yates on 08 9780 5272 or email cyates@amrshire.wa.gov.au

Read more about Changing Places.