Member for New England and Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the start of new facilities in Tamworth, catering for residents and tourists with a chronic illness or disability, and the elderly.

Mr Joyce said the $625,000 investment for the Changing Places Facility and Accessible Transport Hub in Bicentennial Park has been fully funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI).

“It’s facilities like this that continue to grow regional Australia, as we continuously lift the standard of living for people in Tamworth and the New England.

“I’m proud to be part of a Coalition Government that tirelessly stands up, and fights for the most vulnerable in our regional communities,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Designed to make visiting the CBD an easier and more enjoyable experience for disabled /elderly residents and their carers, the new facility will provide a purpose-built toilet and change facility, including ceiling track hoist, adult change table and a shower as well as nearby parking bays and transport infrastructure to assist with the loading and unloading of wheelchairs.

The new facility’s location in Bicentennial Park near the No. 1 Cricket Oval was chosen due to its close proximity to Peel Street shops, allowing residents to utilise the nearby pedestrian crossing before travelling through Fitzroy Plaza.

Mr Joyce said, “The LRCI program supports local councils to deliver priority, local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia.

“The program supports jobs and the resilience of local economies to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

A further investment of $252,150 will be made by the NSW Government through their Regional Tourism Acceleration Fund, which will enable the construction of shelter and shade for the Accessible Transport Hub as well as additional embellishments for the facility.

Construction of the ‘Changing Places’ facility is expected to take approximately 6 weeks with additional roofing over parking bays, paths and embellishments to be constructed at a later date. 

For more details regarding the new facility, visit

https://haveyoursay.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/disability-transport-hub