Award for growing Changing Places Network

The City of Moreton Bay’s Changing Places Network Plan has won Wendy Chadwick Encouragement Award at the recent Planning Institute of Australia’s QLD Planning Excellence Awards.

The award was presented during a gala awards ceremony in Brisbane on November 7 and comes as council prepares to open its fourth Changing Place.

Changing Places facilities provide specialised equipment to ensure safe and dignified access to public toilets for people with higher support needs and their carers. The plan aims to “advocate and plan for more Changing Places facilities across the city”.

Following extensive consultation with the community, service providers and experts, Moreton Bay City Council developed the first dedicated Changing Places Network Plan at a local government level in Australia.

Mayor Peter Flannery says the award is recognition of the work Council is doing to improve accessibility.

“Being selected by the judges for this award is a testament to the innovative planning that has gone into the City’s Changing Places Network Plan,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Changing Places facilities, located in key public areas, provide specialised equipment to ensure safe and dignified access to public toilets for people with higher support needs and their carers.

“There is expected to be 52,000 people with a profound or severe core activity limitation living in City of Moreton Bay by 2041 and our plan provides long-term planning and delivery of Changing Places facilities that will meet the current and future needs of the city.

“To date, City of Moreton Bay has installed three Changing Places at South Pine Sports Centre, Redcliffe Library and Albany Creek Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

“I’m excited to see our fourth Changing Places facility expected to open in late 2025 at Woorim Beach with another on the way for Burpengary Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre in 2026.

“The Changing Places Network Plan highlights our work towards being the most accessible city in Queensland.

“We’re extremely proud to receive the Wendy Chadwick Encouragement Award and sincerely hope this plan will lead to more Changing Places, not only in Moreton Bay but throughout Queensland and Australia,” he says.

For more about City of Moreton Bay’s Changing Places Network Plan visit Changing Places - City of Moreton Bay.