Designed for Inclusivity

Indoor 25 metre pool with ramp. The Centre’s hydrotherapy pool with hoist.

Collette Holland describes how all abilities access is at the heart of the new Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre

The City of Sydney’s new Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre in the inner-city precinct of Green Square is the largest aquatic centre built in Sydney since the 2000 Olympic Games.

Opened in February and managed by Belgravia Leisure, the Centre’s design, inspired by Sydney’s famous ocean swimming spots, includes an inclusive physical activity hub with all abilities access.

Sited within the 278-hectare Green Square urban renewal area, in 10 years, the area will be home to more than 62,000 residents, and one of the most densely populated spots in Australia.

The state-of-the-art $106.5 million facility features a 50 metre outdoor pool set within recreational paddling areas, an indoor 25 metre pool with moveable floor, a children’s water playground, hydrotherapy pool, gym, creche, café, sports field and outdoor training circuit.

Introducing the Centre, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore stated “this is the City’s sixth and largest aquatic centre right in the middle of one of Sydney’s fastest growing precincts. From children splashing and serious swimmers improving their lap times to gym-lovers and sports teams on the field, this terrific centre has something for everyone.” All abilities access The Centre has been carefully designed to suit all members of our diverse community.

The Centre has a Changing Places facility to meet the needs of people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. It is equipped with a height adjustable adult-sized change table, a constant charging ceiling hoist track system, a centrally located toilet, adequate circulation space, an automatic door and a privacy screen.

The hoist can lift someone from the accessible space and carry them along a track on the ceiling through to the hydrotherapy pool. Anyone from the community is welcome to use the Changing Places facility to change and use the bathroom.

The complex is also the first in NSW to include an Access Key. The Access Key is an online guide that provides visitors with information to help visitors with Autism, cognitive disability, intellectual disability, dementia and Alzheimer’s familiarise themselves with the facility and plan their journey ahead of time, online.

The 25-metre heated indoor pool with a moveable floor means we can change the pool’s depth for programming for all abilities including water polo, underwater hockey and

The Centre’s aquatic playground.

The Centre’s hydrotherapy pool with hoist. Credit: Brett Boardman Photography. Outdoor 50 metre pool with ramp. Credit: Brett Boardman Photography.

children’s swimming lessons. It is the largest moveable floor in the Southern Hemisphere.

All pools have ramp access with a shallow decline, so no matter a person’s ability, access to the pools is provided. There are two pool hoists that can be moved to different parts of the centre.

The hydrotherapy pool is available for physiotherapy needs.

A hearing augmentation system has been installed. It covers all pools and concourses, with receivers available from reception. A hearing loop system works in the foyer, café and creche. Visitors can switch their hearing aid cochlear implant processor into T switch position to tap into the system. An infrared hearing augmentation system covers rooms and workout areas.

A charging point for mobility scooters and other electric mobility devices is in the foyer area so people can recharge their devices and avoid running out of battery mid-journey.

The facility is a member of the Welcome Here initiative. Rainbow stickers and a charter are displayed in a prominent place to let everyone know that LGBTQI diversity is welcomed and celebrated within the facility.

Sustainability features Design features, including waste, water and energy initiatives, have contributed to the centre’s 5-star design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

The building uses a combination of more than 400 rooftop solar panels and cogeneration system to produce electricity for the centre and park. The heat by-product of the cogeneration system warms the pool water. Surplus electricity will power neighbouring buildings in the Green Square community and cultural precinct.

The Green Square urban water recycling centre is used to irrigate the surrounding parkland and flush toilets. Rainwater captured from the centre’s roof supplements the pool top up supply. Earth berms made from excavated material surround the aquatic centre to insulate internal spaces during warm Sydney summers.

The Centre’s timber and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof adds to the building’s sustainability rating by reducing the building’s reliance on artificial lighting.

These innovative features also make the Centre significantly cheaper to run. Collette Holland is the City of Sydney’s Aquatic and Leisure Services Manager.

Access KeysTM give careful consideration to the diversity of disability and the diversity of people’s needs to ensure experiences are more inclusive by providing a range of helpful and predictive information about visiting new places.

The audience for an Access Key is wide and can include people who live with disability; physical/invisible/ temporary, sensory impairment, autism spectrum disorder, mothers with prams, carers, educators/schools, disability service providers, people who speak languages other than English as well as the general population that would like accurate and convenient information about accessing venues, events or programs. For more information contact 0403 670 942, www.accessabilityaustralia.com

Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Credit: Brett Boardman Photography. The Centre’s indoor 25 metre pool. Credit: Brett Boardman Photography.