Accessible facilities coming to Portarlington foreshore

THE public toilet and amenity building at Portarlington’s Henderson Reserve has been tapped for an upgrade, with the land manager striving to make the available facilities more accessible.

To make it easier for both locals and visitors to participate in community and social activities and with the support of the Victorian government, the upgraded building will feature a Changing Place facility.

Changing Places facilities are larger than standard accessible toilets and are built to rigorous specifications to remove barriers for people with high support needs, allowing them to enjoy day-to-day activities such as a trip to the beach, without limiting their time out due to a lack of suitable toilets.

Once upgraded, the facility will be available to anyone who has a MLAK key and include a ceiling track hoist system, fully accessible toilet, height-adjustable change table and shower.

The Changing Places facility will also be complemented by a full upgrade, overseen by Bellarine Bayside, to the existing toilet and amenity building on Portarlington’s foreshore.

Upgrades will include new ambulant cubicles, a standard accessible cubicle, outdoors showers and a storage room for beach wheelchairs, while the building will feature natural finishes which will blend with the surrounding environment and sit in harmony with other recently updated structures along the coast.

“Changing Places are important facilities for creating inclusive communities and the new amenity building on the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay will be a great asset to the northern Bellarine Peninsula,” Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said.

Bellarine Bayside chief executive Bruce Elliot said improving accessibility was a key goal for the not-for-profit organisation in the years to come.

“We are pleased to start with the public amenity building at the main beach in Portarlington, offering equitable facilities for everyone to have the chance to enjoy our beautiful beaches on Port Phillip Bay.

“The existing facility in this location was built prior to current design standards and does not contain any accessible facilities, so this is an important and exciting upgrade.”

genU chief executive Clare Amies said accessible facilities enabled everyone to feel welcome.

“genU supports initiatives that build inclusive communities and want to acknowledge Bellarine Bayside for identifying and responding to this need.”

Works are scheduled to begin early next month with the demolition of the current public toilet and amenity building at the reserve and are expected to take two months to complete.

During construction, the facility will remain closed to the public, with the nearest alternative public amenities located 300m to the east of the site near the Portarlington Pier.