The City of Greater Bendigo will commence work after Easter on a $320,000 major project to upgrade the existing public toilet facilities and provide a new Changing Place in the Hargreaves Street Multi Storey Car Park.
City of Greater Bendigo Health and Wellbeing Director Vicky Mason said the new Changing Place will provide a secure public toilet featuring a fully accessible toilet, overhead ceiling hoist, height adjustable adult change table, privacy curtain, additional seating and a safe and clean environment with adequate space for people with severe and profound disabilities.
"This will be the first Changing Place in the Bendigo city centre and it will allow people with disabilities to participate more fully in activities and events, access shops, services and education facilities without having to worry about suitable toilet facilities," Ms Mason said.
"Both the new Changing Place and the upgrade of the existing male and female public toilets are recommendations of the Greater Bendigo Public Toilet Strategy.
"It's an important project that will help improve some of Bendigo's most utilised toilet facilities to make them safer and more inclusive and accessible for everyone."
When completed the new Changing Place will be available 24 hours, seven days a week to holders of a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK). The MLAK system is fitted to elevators at railway stations, accessible public toilets in Council areas and National Parks across Australia and on items of play equipment like the Liberty Swing at Strathdale Park. People with disability can purchase a MLAK master key which will open all public facilities fitted with this specially designed lock.
Construction of the new Changing Place and work to refurbish the existing male and female toilets and the accessible toilet will commence after Easter. The work is expected to be completed in August 2019.
While the car park will remain fully operational throughout the duration of the works the public toilets will be closed and people are advised to access public toilets located at the nearby Bendigo Library and Hargreaves Mall during this time.
The project is being funded by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government.
