Construction has commenced on the new toilet amenities building for Bankstown City Gardens Livvi’s Place. The design of this new amenity building was achieved after extensive consultation with the local disabled community, parents and carers of people with special needs, with Bankstown Council’s own Access Advisory Committee, and community members. Council also benefitted from the assistance and advice of two Access Consultants with the design going above and beyond what is typically provided for the special needs community. The delivery of this specialised amenity known as a ‘Changing Places’ amenity will be a first for a park situation in Sydney.

Through consultation Council became aware of a dire need for, and an opportunity to provide for the section of the disabled community who need special assistance with personal care. A specialised accessible toilet facility will provide a hoist and gantry system and hydraulic change facilities in addition to accessible (wheelchair) and ambulant facilities. Local Bankstown MP Jason Clare has awarded grant funding towards provision of this unique equipment.

The architecturally-designed brick building features a breezeway between two building halves, an over-arching pitched roofline with undercover area beneath housing external hand-washing facilities, a bubbler and a dwarf seating (waiting) wall. The building is sited in a location to suit the future layout of the park and playground close to existing water, sewer and electrical connections, and to maximise passive surveillance from the street. The building is situated outside of and adjacent to the main circulation paths within the park, and positioned to also ensure no loss of trees.

Construction commenced late March and will extend until July 2016, weather permitting.