Ballarat welcomes accessible and transportable toilet and changing facility

Complete with a roof tracking hoist, adult size change table and fully accessible toilet, the Marveloo will have a semi-permanent position at both the Lake Wendouree North Gardens and Mars Stadium.

The City of Ballarat had previously been hiring a Marveloo from Maroondah City Council to service AFL football games at Mars Stadium and the Begonia Festival, however, a $100,000 grant from the State Government earlier this year has allowed them to build their own.

The transportable changing facility is designed to cater for the needs of people with a profound disability and will improve inclusion for many people at events in and around Ballarat.

Mayor Councillor Samantha McIntosh says the Marveloo is a wonderful addition to the City of Ballarat’s infrastructure assets.

“The Marveloo will allow people with a disability to be able to take part in a much wider range of events in the Ballarat region, confident they will be able to access a top standard facility that can accommodate their needs,” Cr McIntosh said.

The installation also comes as ”good news” for Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) who have been working through their local Peer Action Group in Ballarat to promote inclusion and accessibility for everyone.

Community Develop Manager at VALID, David Craig says without access to modern fully accessible toilets community inclusion and participation will continue to be denied to many people with disabilities.

“The new Marveloo in Ballarat will provide opportunities for many people with disabilities who require a modern fully accessible toilet facility to attend events and festivals around Ballarat like all other residents and visitors to Ballarat.”

Mr Craig says the transportable facility also provides equal access and increased potential for tourists who require fully accessible toilet facilities in and around the area, with the flexibility to move the Marveloo to different event sites as required.

“The Marveloo will make Ballarat a more attractive target for tourists and enable local residents to extend the time they can spend at events and festivals across the city.”

“The decision by Ballarat City Council to permanently base the Marveloo near the Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree also ensure access to this prime tourist attraction until fixed facilities are available across the city alongside all other public toilet facilities,” he says.

Chairperson at Disability Advocacy Victoria Melanie Muir says the Marveloo is a great initiative that actively provides necessary solutions to build more inclusive community events.

“I imagine that there are a number of people with disability, their families and loved ones who will be overjoyed at the prospect of going out to an event and having access to a bathroom…  often something taken for granted,” she says.