Toorourrong Reservoir Park accessibility

Entry to Toorourrong Reservoir Park is via Jacks Creek Rd which is off the Whittlesea-Yea Rd in Humevale. Before visiting Toorourrong Reservoir Park, check the park page for the latest changes of conditions.

This scenic reservoir park, located on Melbourne’s outer north east fringe, is the perfect place for picnics and gatherings, viewing the reservoir, and taking short walks with family and friends to enjoy the scenery and learn about the park’s unique history. It is open 9:00am – 5:00 pm, and 9:00am – 8:00pm during Eastern Daylight Savings time. Dogs are allowed on lead.

Facilities at Toorourrong Reservoir Park are extensive and include two large picnic rotundas with gas barbecues and tables with accessible sections. Further gas and wood fired barbecues are situated throughout the garden area with adjoining picnic tables. There is one centrally located toilet block with one accessible toilet.

 

Picnic area Toorourrong Reservoir

 

Parking

Entry to the car park is one way direction with two designated disabled parking spaces on the left, located 25 metres from the pedestrian entrance. Shared space between them is marked with diagonal yellow lines. The car park is sealed bitumen and accommodates 160 vehicles. There are two bus spaces along the Jacks Creek Rd exit. Rear transfer access is marked with diagonal lines.

 

Disabled parking bays with shared space Disabled parking bay connected to pedestrian path

 

Pathways

There are two different pathways that connect to the accessible parking. These have black tactile paving at the curbs to mark the transition from roadway to pedestrian route, which assists vision-impaired pedestrians to safely navigate to the path. Path 1 is the preferred option being only 25 metres to the information shelter and seating area. Path 2 crosses two sections of passing traffic and has a bollard that is non-removable inserted in the middle of the path near the open entry.

 

Pedestrian path 1 from car park to information shelter Pedestrian path 2

 

Information Shelter and Entry

The information shelter has a large map that marks the picnic rotundas, picnic tables, barbecues, toilets, walks, and bushfire memorial. There are no accessible icons on the map, however all walks in the main picnic area are flat. The shelter provides information on the history of the park, the Black Saturday bushfires, and the reservoir. There is a long bench seat at the entry, and only one small bench seat along the 200m walk from the information shelter to picnic rotunda 1. This section of pathway is all bitumen and has a minimal decline in elevation. 

 

Information shelter with four sides Entry area

 

Entry seating

Open area seating along entrance pathway.

 

Entry area bench seating Entry path small bench seat

 

 

Secondary signage on entry path with accessible icons and distances Non-removable bollard

 

Accessible toilet in shared block

One Unisex Ambulant Toilet is located at the end of the block. The medium-weight swing door opens inward and has a self-closing mechanism. It has a lever style door handle and a rocker style lock that can be operated without finger dexterity. The cubicle is large with ample turning room. There is wheelchair space beside the toilet which has grab rails on the left-hand side wall and rear wall.

The seat is 480 mm high with a padded backrest. Flush buttons are behind the seat to the right, are raised and require only light pressure to operate. There is a mirror on the wall at the hand basin which has clear space under it. The single tap is lever operated, requiring light upward pressure to turn on. It remains on until pushed back down. There is a wall-mounted baby change table with Braille lettering.

 

The shared toilet block The entrance to the Unisex Ambulant Toilet

 

 

Unisex ambulant toilet Hand basin

 

 

Inside door handle Baby change table

 

Picnic Rotundas

There are two picnic rotundas that have large tables with an accessible seating area 700 mm long at the end of each side. The surface height of the tables is 840 mm and the leg clearance is 710 mm. Each rotunda has two standard gas barbecues 900mm high with easy push button start, and a water tank with attached hose and standard tap fittings that require finger dexterity. Portable barbecues can be used anywhere in the park and concrete disposal units are provided at the rotundas to safely dispose of heat beads and coals.

 

Picnic rotunda 1 Table with accessible seating area

 

 

Picnic rotunda 2 Gas barbecue

 

Open Air Picnic Areas

There are two gas barbecues and two solid fuel barbecues in open air picnic areas situated next to picnic tables.

 

Picnic area Solid fuel barbecue

 

Lily Pond Walk and Bushfire Memorial

Paths in the picnic area are an unsealed surface made of small, crushed rock. The Lily Pond Walk is a wide, flat track that loops through the lower section of the park. The walk to the Lily Pond and Bushfire Memorial turns off to the side of it. Long bench seats line the main paths, and there is extra seating at the Bushfire Memorial. 

 

Walk signage Path seating

 

 

Bushfire memorial Memorial and Lily Pond

 

Reservoir Wall Walk

The walk to the reservoir is accessed from the main bitumen pathway at the Melbourne Water information sign on Toorourrong Reservoir. There is a flat concrete curb, and then the path changes to a compacted course gravel surface. The reservoir wall is 760 mm high at the pictured gate which allows a full view of the water. The height of the wall gradually increases to 1.5 metres for most of the length of the walk which is standing viewing only. It is recommended to return the same way as the descent at the far end of the wall is too steep for wheelchairs and the elevation provides a panoramic view of the park.

 

Access to reservoir Reservoir wall path