New toilet for complex care needs hailed by families

Some of our most disadvantaged have been given a lifeline - so they can be like every one of us.

A state-of-the-art public toilet was opened beside the Dunedin Railway Station yesterday, ending a long journey for members of the Dunedin disability community who have fought long and hard for it.

It is the first of its kind in the South Island.

Changing Places bathrooms are designed for those with complex care needs who are unable to use standard accessible bathrooms or public toilets.

It includes a height adjustable toilet and hand basin, privacy screen, built-in hand support grab handles and a change table that doubles as a shower bed.

There is also a ceiling track hoist system enabling individuals to move safely around the bathroom and provide support for caregivers.

The building also includes two other public toilets at the railway walking overbridge.

It would allow those to be able to leave their home and be comfortable in knowing they could use a toilet for their needs in the centre city.

Nine years ago Dunedin mother Barbara Gee started looking at getting special public toilet facilities needed for her sons Tim and Calum as they would soon be leaving school and would not have a public toilet they could use.

‘‘Take out the school and our home and there are no other options,’’ she said.

‘‘It then became a mission to get our own public toilet in Dunedin.’’

She said there had been a real community effort and thanked the Dunedin City Council for all their help.

The new facility would allow the family to be able to get out and about. Unfortunately, Tim died in 2021.

Changing Places founder Jenn Hooper, of Hamilton, was at yesterday’s opening and said this was the 11th toilet of its type in New Zealand.

The ultimate plan was for them to be dotted throughout the country, so families with children of complex care needs could travel round the country.

It allowed people to be able to get round the city and not be stuck at home.

Dunedin City Council property services group manager Anna Nilsen said the facility’s opening was a milestone for the city and the community.

It had taken a while to get it all lined up but once they had found the space by the railway station, building started in January and it had quickly finished, she said.

There was a 9m long disability carpark beside the building. The cost of the new facilities was $750,000 and had been budgeted in the council’s long-term plan.

A special key would be given to families of disabled people to give them exclusive access.