Stonnington Councillor Glen Atwell calls on Chadstone to deliver Changing Places facility
A Stonnington councillor has slammed retail giant Chadstone shopping centre for taking too long to install a specially designed bathroom for people with severe disabilities.
Inner East
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Australia’s largest shopping centre has been urged to quit dragging its heels and deliver on installing a bathroom for people with severe disabilities.
Stonnington Councillor Glen Atwell said Chadstone promised the council a year ago it would install a specially equipped Changing Places facility as part of its ongoing redevelopment works, but nothing had been done.
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Cr Atwell, whose three-year-old daughter Ivy is severely disabled, said it was “unacceptable” that a centre the size of Chadstone did not have a space where adults and children, who required a high level of care, could go to the toilet or be changed by their carers.
Changing Places bathrooms are equipped with large change tables and a hoist.
Cr Atwell said his family was one of thousands who would benefit from such a facility at the centre.
“These Changing Places are the sorts of facilities that aren’t optional, they’re basic requirements,” Cr Atwell said.
“They’re life changing facilities for people with disabilities.”
The specialist bathrooms are available at Eastland, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Arena.
Chadstone general manager Fiona Mackenzie said the centre had identified a space to install the bathroom and construction would begin next year.
“We’re really pleased that plans have now been finalised for Chadstone’s Changing Places facility,” she said.
“As part of the review, the team considered proximity to a major entrance, accessible parking and public transport, while also ensuring the facility would be located in a space that was most convenient for our customers who would be using it.
“We understand not having specific changing facilities at Chadstone for people with severe disabilities can cause inconvenience and frustration for some of our customers and, while this has taken some time, we wanted to ensure we got it right so we can provide the best services for our community.”
Details: changingplaces.org.au
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