Residents with disabilities in the Hunter region are urging local councils to provide free and clear access to locked public toilets and change rooms, highlighting a confusing and inconsistent system across the area.
A swimmer's struggle for basic access
Denise Lindus Trummel, who is almost 80, has swum at Newcastle Ocean Baths for most of her life. For the past five years, following a car accident that damaged her feet and a leg, she has relied on a mobility scooter. While the baths remain a cherished source of exercise and therapy, using the toilet and change facilities has become a significant challenge.
"I usually have to try get home or go down to Newcastle beach if I want to go to the toilet," Ms Lindus Trummel explained. She was unaware for years that an accessible facility even existed at the baths. When she recently tried to use it before the lifeguard's 9am start time, she found it locked and could not gain entry.
The costly key to public amenities
The accessible facilities at Newcastle Ocean Baths, like many others, are secured with a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK). This nationwide system allows people with disabilities to access locked public toilets, change rooms, and certain playground equipment. Eligibility requires written authority from a doctor or a recognised disability organisation.
After discovering the locked door, Ms Lindus Trummel contacted Newcastle City Council and local locksmiths. She was quoted $27.50 to purchase the key. "I've got $27.50, but why charge disabled people to have a shower and go to the toilet?" she questioned. She believes proof of disability should be enough to obtain the key from council free of charge.
Purchased directly from the Master Locksmiths Association, the key costs $64, though it may be claimable through the NDIS for some individuals.
A patchwork of council policies
How councils manage the MLAK system varies dramatically, creating confusion for the community. An investigation reveals a lack of uniformity:
- Free access: Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council, and Port Stephens Council provide the keys to eligible residents at no cost.
- Fees apply: Newcastle City Council, Cessnock City Council, and Upper Hunter Shire Council all charge a fee. In Cessnock, the key costs $28.80 from the council.
A spokesperson for City of Newcastle stated that the cost of obtaining an MLAK is "a personal responsibility and not subsidised by the City."
Melanie Schlaeger, a representative from the Community Disability Alliance Hunter and a wheelchair user, understands the rationale for charges but suggests schemes for those who cannot afford them. "I feel that councils should know more about where you can get the keys from, because that has been a problem for our people," she said.
Ms Schlaeger, who has used an MLAK since her teens, also highlighted a safety concern, suggesting the system needs an override function after she was once locked inside an automatic door.
Navigating the accessible facilities map
Not all accessible public facilities are locked, and some are only secured after hours. The federal government's National Public Toilet Map provides a crucial resource, showing which toilets require an MLAK for access. Residents can view the map online at toiletmap.gov.au.
For long-time swimmers like Denise Lindus Trummel, the issue is one of basic dignity and inclusion. "We are not asking for much but we shouldn't be charged, it is just wrong," she said, encapsulating the call for a fairer, more consistent approach to essential public access across the Hunter region.
