Visitors to the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space may have noticed a new building has popped up!

New toilets are being constructed including accessible, baby changing and changing places facilities. We look forward to having these ready for use early in the new year.

The City will also be linking the paths, creating a place for food and beverage vendors to operate inside the play space and installing additional barbecues.

What is a changing places facility?

Changing places facilities have been introduced to provide suitable toilets for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. These facilities allow people with high support needs to enjoy the day-to-day activities that many of use take for granted.

In addition to the unisex toilets and an accessible toilet, the City is constructing a separate changing places room that includes a height adjustable adult sized changing bench, a constant charging ceiling track hoist system and a shower as well as toilet facilities. This room will be accessible to holders of an MLAK key.

For more information about an MLAK key or how to apply for one, please visit the Master Lock Smiths website.

To find out more on Changing Places, please visit the Changing Places website.

Thank you to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) and Rotary for their funding contributions to this project.

The City has installed a statue at the entrance to the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space and two stainless steel barbecues at Beaton Park.

The statue was commissioned as part of the play space project by Bronze and Marble Gallery in collaboration with Fiona Robbe Landscape Architects who provided the drawings for the entrance artworks.

The barbecue facilities (to see images below - click on title above) are in addition to future planned barbecue facilities within the play space, that are yet to be installed, as part of the last phase of construction adjacent to the soon to be constructed ablution facilities. The barbecues are designed for accessibility purposes with the controls on top of the barbecues for easy access.

Phase one of the All Abilities Play Space on the Nedlands foreshore in WA – including the main playground area ­– has officially opened with a new name.

Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins, Rotary and the major sponsor formally opened the facility on Thursday, 7 June, at Beaton Park near the Swan River, unveiling it as the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space.

Vern and Jo Wheatley are major sponsors of the cutting-edge play facility for all ages and abilities, motivated by the many hours of Vern’s happy childhood spent on the Nedlands foreshore.

Initiated by Rotary seven years ago, the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space is the result of a collaboration between the City of Nedlands and the Rotary Clubs of Nedlands, Subiaco and West Perth with other partners including Inclusion WA, COLAB, Wood & Grieve Engineers, Lotterywest and Department of Communities – Disability Services.

Please visit the City's website to read the media release and view photos from the opening.

The All Abilities Play Space is progressing. The limestone walls have been constructed and the shades sails have been installed. The installation of the concrete footpaths, the play equipment and reticulation are nearing completion. Following this the soft fall will be completed in time for the expected opening date of May 2018.

The All Abilities Play Space (AAPS) in Beaton Park is progressing ahead of schedule and under budget. The status of the contracts are as follows:

The City has appointed Roads2000 to undertake the construction of a new car park at Beaton Park. This work is being undertaken as part of the construction of the All Abilities Play Space project and is scheduled for completion and ready for community use by Friday, 22 December 2017.

The construction of the car park will be undertaken on weekdays, between 7am and 5pm. The work will involve the demolition and excavation of the current site, installing drainage and kerbing, laying the road base and asphalt.

The City recognises the need to ensure continued access is maintained to the current car park, the foreshore area and Tawarri Reception Centre and have provided signaled temporary access to assist pedestrians and motorists to safely move around the site. Traffic controllers will also be onsite to provide assistance.

For operational enquiries, please contact the Roads2000 Project Manager, Alex Mahncke on 0432 747 811 or email AlexM@roads2000.com.au

For all other enquiries please contact the City’s Project Manager, Paul Beasley on 9273 3500, council@nedlands.wa.gov.au

Thank you for your patience while these works are being undertaken.

On-the-ground works will be progressing from Monday 8 May. The following works will be undertaken:

• Weed/grass spraying
• Erection of temp site fence
• Installation of offices and cribrooms
• Demolition and removal of existing play equipment
• Tree Pruning

The landscaping of Beaton Park in preparation for the All Abilities Play Space is about to commence. The area will be closed to the public whilst construction proceeds. You will also notice that the nearby barbecues will also be disconnected.

Whilst this work is being undertaken, the City will be commencing the purchase of the play equipment. Please see the document library to view the context plan.

Stage two of the river wall rehabilitation project will be continuing during this period with construction of the next section from an area near Tawarri Reception Centre to the Perth Flying Yacht Squadron. This is an exciting project as it includes improvements to the beach and the connection of the accessible beach area to the All Abilities Play Space. Planning for this next section is currently underway.

Installation of the new sewer pump station and the new electrical supply is well underway. The play space and car parking construction is anticipated to commence during April.

The preparatory works for the construction of the All Abilities Play Space is now underway. The City will shortly be turning off the reticulation at Beaton Park to enable the sewer and electrical works to be completed. This, unfortunately will lead to the gradual browning of the grass.