Accessible Townsville

Townsville City Council recognises that creating an accessible city is a key factor in improving the lives of residents and visitors.

Council is committed to working with our community in providing accessible places.

Accessible Bathrooms

Access to a clean, safe, and private place to go to the toilet is a basic human right. Not all bathrooms are suitable for all bodies. The National Public Toilet Map shows the locations of accessible public toilets and their features and amenities. The mobility in Townsville map (below) also provides information about accessible toilets around Townsville.

Townsville also has several Changing Places facilities. A Changing Places facility includes additional features which provides people with high support needs access to a suitably equipped bathroom. The below picture shows some of the additional features (click for larger image):

Each changing places facility has a constant-charging ceiling track hoist system, a centrally-located peninsula toilet with space for a carer either side, a height-adjustable adult-sized change table, extra circulation space, and a privacy screen.
© Changing Places, changingplaces.org.au

Some accessible bathrooms in Townsville are locked with a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK). An MLAK key allows access to dedicated public facilities for people living with disabilities, including the new Changing Place at Riverway. People living with disabilities are able to purchase a MLAK key, which will open all doors, toilets, playground equipment and other facilities fitted with a MLAK lock.  These locks can be found all over Australia. Keys can be ordered from the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia or from some local master locksmiths.

Mobility in Townsville

BrioMetrix Mobility in Townsville Map provides an accessible effort rating system to support navigation planning for when you visit places within our city. This information is relevant to the elderly, frail and walkers, as well as users of wheelchairs, strollers and mobility scooters, anyone with wheels on pathways or mobility consideration needs.

Click on the map below to launch the interactive BrioMetrix Mobility in Townsville map.

Mobility in Townsville map preview

Have you noticed an issue while getting around? Let us know by either calling the Customer Service Centre on 13 48 10 or by using the Snap, Send Solve app on your iPhone or Android device.

Snap Send Solve

Interact with Council and report problems using the Snap Send Solve app on your iPhone or Android device. Report items such as graffiti, potholes, damaged playground equipment and much more.

Download on the App Store

Google Play Icon

This app allows the use of image upload and geocodes to be sent.

About the Project

In 2019, in partnership with Briometrix and Spinal Life Australia Council commenced the Navability project. Using modern mapping technology, wheelchairs were turned into mapping tools with devices installed to track routes of the individuals participating in the project.

As part of most recent work, the wheelchair pilots navigated pathways around Thuringowa and the Ross River Pathways adding to work done in previous years in the CBD, Aitkenvale and surrounding key landmarks. The Navability project will continue to map further parts of the city in future stages.

Accessible Experience Ratings

Get to know our city more through the Spinal Life Australia Accessible Australia app.

The Accessible Australia app is a free online resource where users can find accessible places and experiences and leave reviews to help others.

Similar to TripAdvisor, people across the globe will be able to find out about places and spaces to visit in Townsville that are accessible to all.

This platform brings another layer of localised information that supports Councils work in areas such as Mobility Mapping and is another step towards making our city accessible for all.

Share your experience of how accessible our city is by leaving reviews at Accessible Australia.

For more information, visit Spinal Life Australia.

Accessible Beaches

Beach access mats have been rolled out on The Strand to help improve accessibility for anyone in the community with a mobility issue. The beach mats allow people who use a wheelchair or parents pushing a pram or stroller to get onto the beach without assistance. The project cost almost $20,000 and was funded under the Queensland Government’s Works For Queensland program.

Going down to the beach and sitting on the sand with your family is something that a lot of people really take for granted.

These beach mats will allow anyone who uses a wheelchair or mobility device to be able to get down on to the beach and be with their friends and family.

It’s going to change people’s lives just by making it possible for people to get on to the beach unassisted. The Strand is one of our most iconic locations and now it is going to be accessible for everyone in our community.

The project is really important in making our community more accessible for everyone living here.

Council has been working with the Lifeguard Services to roll out the mats on a regular basis on the Strand Beach.

Beach Access Mats

Beach Access Mats

Wheelchairs, prams and strollers can access Townsville’s beaches on mats in the following locations:

Beach Mat Availability
The Strand Every day except Thursday afternoon from 4pm to Friday morning at 9am.
Pallarenda None currently

For more information on beach access mats visit our Disability page.