The Changing Places and Accessible Transport Hub project is now complete in the heart of the CBD’s Bicentennial Park.

The Accessible Transport Hub provides convenient accessible parking for residents and community transport service providers and weather protection, while the Changing Places Facility, which was completed in 2022, helps many residents living with a chronic illness, disability or those in advanced age feel more comfortable to visit the CBD.

Prior to this project that there was a lack of change facilities which are suitable for adults in the Tamworth region.

Many residents living with chronic illness, disability or those in advanced age and their carers often avoid visiting high-profile public places las it can be extremely difficult to clean or change an adult without the necessary equipment.

Facilities such as the Changing Places Facility & Accessible Transport Hub only 100m from the Peel Street shops provides these residents with the confidence to get out and about in Tamworth.

The facility has been open for 12 months and has seen a high level of use from local residents, as well as visitors travelling through our region.

Residents and visitors with a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) are able to access the facility.

This is a nationally used key that allows Australia's disabled community to access specialised equipment while preventing vandalism.

The hub encompasses both purpose-designed change facilities for the elderly and disabled communities and their carers, as well as nearby parking and transport infrastructure to assist with the loading and unloading of wheelchairs.

The 'Changing Places' certified amenities building includes:

• a height-adjustable adult-sized change table
• a constant-charging ceiling track hoist system
• a centrally-located peninsula toilet
• a shower
• an automatic door with a clear opening
• a privacy screen
• seating and ambulant hand rails.

The transport infrastructure includes:

• Parking bays for minibuses and disabled taxies
• A concrete path between the parking bays and the Changing Places building
• Surrounding kerb for pedestrian safety, line marking and signage

Representing an investment of $625,000, the Changing Places Facility & Accessible Transport Hub is one of the projects to be funded by the Australian Government’s recent Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A further $252,150 has been invested by the NSW Government, for the Accessible Transport Hub shelter, with a further $90,100 from the Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.

Staff have worked with a formed Disability Community Transport Hub Working Group who are represented by members of community transport providers, disability service providers, carers and transport representatives. The purpose of this Working Group was to assist in facilitating the project from a conceptual stage to inception stage whilst ensuring that it meets the needs of all user groups who would be reasonably expected to use the facility.

Further community consultation was also undertaken in April / May 2021.