Parkes Shire Council has secured $122,939 through the Australian Government's Accessible Australia Tranche 2 program to deliver the first fully compliant Changing Places facility in the Parkes CBD.
The new facility will be located on Church Street and will provide safe, dignified and appropriate amenities for people with high support needs, as well as their families and carers.
The project has a total value of $245,879, with Council contributing $122,940.
Changing Places facilities provide more space and specialised equipment than standard accessible toilets, helping people with complex disabilities to use bathroom facilities safely and with dignity.
The facility will address a significant gap in accessible infrastructure in Parkes, with the nearest compliant Changing Places facilities currently more than 100 kilometres away in Blayney and Dubbo.
Parkes Shire Mayor Cr Neil Westcott said the project would make a meaningful difference to residents and visitors.
"This project is about making sure everyone can participate in community life and access our CBD with dignity and independence.
"For people with high support needs and their carers, having access to an appropriate facility can make the difference between being able to visit our town centre and having to stay home or travel significant distances.
"This funding will allow Council to deliver an important piece of accessible infrastructure that will benefit our community for many years to come."
The need for the facility has been identified through Council's Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which recognises the delivery of an accessible adult change facility as a priority.
Parkes is a major regional centre and transport hub, attracting residents, visitors and travellers from across the region. The new facility will help remove barriers to accessing everyday activities including shopping, appointments, travel, community activities and major events such as the annual Parkes Elvis Festival.
The project will include the installation of a prefabricated modular Changing Places facility alongside the existing CBD public amenities, as well as improvements to the surrounding precinct.
Works will include upgrades to the existing public toilets, improvements to accessible parking, enhanced pedestrian connections and associated civil and accessibility works.
Once completed, the toilet will be identified on to National Public Toilet Map that shows the location of more than 23,000 public and private public facilities across Australia.
Currajong Disability Services clients are also playing a vital role in the project, creating artwork that will be used to decorate the exterior of the new amenity.
The project is expected to be completed by October 2027.
The new Changing Places facility will be an important step towards making the Parkes CBD more accessible, inclusive and welcoming for residents and visitors of all abilities.
