Prahran Aquatic Centre paints 'magic' lines for visually impaired

Prahran Aquatic Centre has introduced ‘magic’ lines to improve safety for swimmers with visual impairments under local council's accessibility initiative. Lily Henshaw reports.

High contrast ‘magic’ lines were installed in March at Prahran Aquatic Centre, to assist visually impaired swimmers with smoother navigation and easier access to the swim centre, under the initiative of the City of Stonnington.  

‘Magic’ lines are bright yellow markings that contrast against the flooring, creating an easy path from the front desk to the changing rooms and the pool, where they branch off into the multipurpose lanes.  

Different line patterns allow visually impaired to differentiate female and male changerooms.  

The lines form part of Council’s commitment to its Disability and Inclusion Action plan (2023-2026). Its plan supports universal design by enabling those facing systemic barriers in public recreational places to fully participate in the Stonnington community.  

Stonnington Council initiated the project, after receiving feedback from a patron who is visually impaired. 

The Aquatic Centre regular was actively consulted during the planning and implementation stages, to help address visual accessibility gaps in recreational facilities, particularly pools.  

“Accessibility is always front of mind,” said Head of Aquatic Operations for Stonnington, Dean Gasson. 

High-contrast features demonstrate how simple modifications can improve usability for community members. 

Aquatic operations at Prahran go beyond national compliance standards, particularly after a long-standing member indicated barriers to them entering and using the facility. 

Community feedback on the upgrade installed has been positive, highlighting significant progress towards greater accessibility in local public spaces in Stonnington.  

“I swim here twice a week and noticed the bright lines straight away. I’ve always felt that Prahran pool was a very accessible place, when looking at the suburb as a whole,” said Sarah Smith, who swims with a local group,  

Genuine inclusive and non-discriminatory design is increasingly prioritised across Victoria’s aquatic network, particularly for those with no or low vision.  

Stonnington’s Disability and Access Committee meets regularly to promote inclusive design as standard practice and make facilities more usable in Stonnington. Together, the centre and committee have also certified the pool as sunflower accredited for people with non-visible disabilities, hosting sensory-friendly opening hours.

Katrina Scott-Mackenzie, Senior Team Leader for Customer Service, said the council ensures users are aware of the area’s available supports. “We market to the appropriate groups,” she said.  

Vision Australia estimates that more than 450,000 Australians live with vision impairments, yet public pools remain places of low participation for sight impaired individuals.  

The Prahran Aquatic Centre continues to develop its facilities following a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2023, and is a popular community hub among locals.