Improved Access
Improved path of travel between parking and toilet facilities to better support families with young children and people with disability.
The City of Ballarat is progressing design works for a new public toilet facility in De Soza Park.
Officially opening in 1983, De Soza Park is a great community asset in the heart of Buninyong. Acknowledging the importance of the park to the community, and to visitors, these improvements look to enhance the quality, accessibility, and usage of the park.
Identified in the Public Toilet Strategy, this project supports the outcomes of the De Soza Park Masterplan. During engagement for the Public Toilet Strategy, community members highlighted the need for improvements to accessibility, baby-changing facilities, lighting, and cleanliness at the existing De Soza Park toilets.
This project aims to provide an accessible toilet facility and reinstate the Queen Elizabeth Rotunda (the larger rotunda) as a gathering place for the park.
Improved path of travel between parking and toilet facilities to better support families with young children and people with disability.
The new facilities will follow Universal and Safer by Design principles in line with the Public Toilet strategy. The Queen Elizabeth rotunda renovation provides enhanced community use.
The facilities aim to encourage users of De Soza park to extend visit duration and increase expenditure in local shops.
The concept design has been shaped by the park’s masterplan, discussions with key stakeholders and community feedback. The building form and material palette have been inspired by nearby structures to ensure the new facility responds sensitively to the surrounding context.
In line with the City’s preferred model, the proposed toilets are configured as externally accessed, single‑occupancy cubicles. Entry points face public areas to support passive surveillance and enhance user safety.
The design includes provisions for accessibility, baby change facilities and ambulant cubicles. To support accessibility outcomes some changes will be made to pathways, furniture, and garden beds.
Following the completion of the new toilet facilities, works will begin to refurbish the Queen Elizabeth Rotunda—transitioning it from a public toilet to an accessible picnic and BBQ area. To view the site layout and concept designs click on the arrows below.
*Please note: The images are indicative and design is subject to change.
Image 1 of 4
Shows a perspective view of De Soza park showing the arrival point and connections between buildings.
Arrival occurs along a wide, smooth concrete path that curves gently through the site. On the left side of the path is a 4 cubicle public toilet, featuring an accessible cubicle with baby change facility and several ambulant cubicles. Toilet entry doors are set back inder a 1.5m porch and finished in a cotrasting colour to surounding materials. Imforamtion signage is mounted near the entry above an external vanity sink.
On the of the paths are landscaped garden beds with low shrubs, groundcover, and several large rocks. These elements define the edge of the path without narrowing the walking space.
Moving forward, the path leads toward a rotunda, with open sides and a wide roof, allowing entry from two directions. The open design and central position make it a clear destination and orientation point within the park.
Shows rear approach to the rotunda along a wide concrete path that curves gently around garden beds. In the foreground, a bench is positioned beside the path, providing a resting point and a clear landmark for orientation. Low planting and a large decorative rock sit between the bench and the path, defining the edge without obstructing movement.
Ahead, the path opens into a paved area surrounding the rotunda. The rotunda is hexagonal in plan, with open sides enclosed by vertical framing and decorative panels. A wide roof extends beyond the walls, creating sheltered edges around the structure. Entry is possible from multiple directions, allowing people to approach and pass through the space without needing to backtrack.
in the background the toilet building is visible and connected by the same continuous level and unobstructed path.
Bicycle hoops and a drinking fountain are located near the rotunda, set slightly off the main path but still clearly accessible. These elements act as functional landmarks and pause points along the route.
Garden beds with low shrubs and groundcover follow the path edge, reinforcing direction and guiding movement. The exisitng larger trees, partly shad the rotunda without blocking access or circulation routes.
The intent is to support intuitive navigation, through the use of clear pathways, multiple entry options, resting places and sheltered areas.
From above, curved concrete paths connect an open lawn to two small buildings. A hexagonal rotunda sits to the right, while a rectangular brick toilet building its to the left. The pathway materials vary in colour and texture to aid in wayfinding. Compact sand paths are part of the larger park and walking routes, concrete paths are used as links between buildings..
Movement through the site is organised by gently curving paths that guide visitors between key destinations.
A main path runs diagonally through the site, forming the primary route of travel. Branching from this path are smaller curved paths that lead to different features. Near the centre is a circular rotunda, refurbished and positioned as a focal gathering point. The rotunda can be approached from multiple directions, with paths meeting around its perimeter.
Adjacent to the rotunda is a small seating and amenity area that includes bicycle hoops and a drink fountain, providing a pause point along the route. Nearby planting areas and garden beds define the edges of paths without blocking movement.
To one side of the rotunda is a new toilet building, connected by a short path and set slightly apart for clear orientation. New garden beds surround this building, helping guide movement while maintaining open access.
Further along the main path is a play area, visually distinct and separated from the rotunda by planting and open grass. Seating is placed along paths to provide resting points and landmarks.
Trees and lawn areas fill the remaining space, creating open sightlines and helping users understand where paths lead. Overall, the layout supports intuitive navigation, with smooth path connections, clear destinations, and multiple options for arrival and movement throughout the site.
There are a variety of ways that you can share your feedback:
| Phone | 5320 5500 |
|---|---|
| info@ballarat.vic.gov.au | |
| Website | www.ballarat.vic.gov.au |
| In writing | The Phoenix |
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