CHANGING PLACES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The addition of a Changing Places facility to Adelaide’s newest national park is a triumph for public spaces.

Set in the scenic bushland of O’Halloran Hill in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, Glenthorne National Park — Ityamaiitpinna Yarta is the city’s newest national park.

A protected landscape located about 16 kilometres south of Adelaide’s city centre, this reimagined recreation area features a host of public amenities. A massive play area — one of the biggest adventure playgrounds and nature playspaces in South Australia — it covers over 7000 square metres and features three slides, a seesaw, spinner, fossil dig area, and Kaurna carvings and sculptures. There are also rope and log climbing elements, a pendulum swing, cubby building, and a 25m-long flying fox.

Accessibility was a key priority for the new playspace and therefore includes a wide range of accessible equipment, including an accessible seesaw, swing set and roundabout/spinner, ensuring everyone can enjoy the space and have fun.

Surrounding the play zone is a purpose-built visitors hub. Within this space visitors to the park can utilise the shelters, barbecues, toilets, picnic areas, carparks and heritage buildings. One such facility is the Changing Places amenities block delivered by Modus Australia.

Specialists in community infrastructure, Modus Australia was commissioned to replace the existing facility, which lacked the capacity to accommodate visitors with disability or high-support needs. Working in collaboration with the Department for Environment and Water South Australia on the design, aesthetics and fixtures and fittings required, Modus Australia came up with a fully compliant solution that met the highest accessibility standards, and also integrated seamlessly into the park’s new nature-based aesthetic.

In an effort to help educate visitors to the area, many of the architectural elements scattered around the revitalised recreation zone feature designs from the First Nations Kaurna culture, which were created in partnership with Kaurna elders. This focus on the local environment was also folded into the design of the Changing Places facility by Modus Australia through its material palette.

Timber slats of seasoned Silvertop Ash and a gable roof were utilised in the design to ensure cohesion with existing buildings in the park, as well as a direct connection to the landscape. The interior fitout was curated and designed to achieve a clean, uncluttered space with plenty of natural light and the state-of-the-art fixtures that are the hallmark of a Changes Places facility, including aluminium composite walls.

Key features within the new facility include a height-adjustable adult-sized change table, a ceiling track hoist system, a centrally located peninsula toilet for easy access, as well as additional circulation space exceeding standard requirements to ensure ease of use for carers. A wall-mounted privacy screen and an automatic door with opening clearance of 950mm further ensure maximum usability.

The inclusion of a Changing Places amenities block not only makes life easier for carers, it also means that people with high-care needs are able to appreciate the park’s full range of leisure opportunities, enjoying longer stays with dignity and ease and participating fully in the shared recreation experience.

Designing and installing the Changing Places structure was not without its challenges for Modus Australia. The first challenge was access. Working out the path to the amenities block that was compliant and easy to access for wheelchair users and those with high needs was paramount. The solution was an access point that led directly from the carpark, thereby avoiding issues with electricity to ensure the pathway was safe. A second challenge was sewerage. Due to the distance to existing infrastructure, connecting sewerage to the new facility was not a straightforward endeavour. However, with a little out-of-the-box thinking, Modus overcame the dilemma and was able to bridge the distance gap to ensure the new facility was correctly and safely plumbed for use.

Integrating seamlessly into the park’s natural aesthetic while also meeting the highest accessibility standards, the new Changing Places facility at Glenthorne National Park is a game changer and a welcome addition for visitors to the area.

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client Department for Environment & Water SA
Location O’Halloran Hill, South Australia
Design & Install Modus Australia