BCEC strives to provide safe, equitable and inclusive access for all visitors.
We make every effort to accommodate all guests to ensure a pleasant and comfortable experience. This access statement is intended to provide information for all guests who wish to or use our facilities. If you would like any more information our friendly staff will be happy to help.
Access Guide
BCEC Access Guide has information on accessing our building and services.
LOCATION & ACCESS MAP
Here you can view and print a map with accessible entrances, parking, and more for BCEC facilities. Printed copies are also available at our Information Desks.
BCEC ON MERIVALE STREET
- The building can be accessed via a combination of stairs, ramps and lifts.
- The main entrance to BCEC on Merivale Street is located on the corner of Merivale & Glenelg Street, South Brisbane, and can be accessed via stairs or the lift adjacent to the stairs on the left hand side.
- External stairs provide access to the Great Hall and Exhibition Halls.
- Lifts operate between pavement level on Merivale Street and the main concourse on exhibition level.
- There is a drop off area in Glenelg Street, which offers protection from the weather.
- You can enter the building through our Lower Foyer from Glenelg Street. The Lower Foyer has lifts accessing all levels of the building.
BCEC ON GREY STREET
- The main entrance to BCEC on Grey Street is accessed via stairs or the ramp.
- Russell Walk is the closest adjoining street which allows access to Car Park 3.
PARKING & SET DOWN POINTS
- We provide 24-hour undercover parking with a total of 1,500 parking spaces including designated accessible parking bays conveniently located near the lifts.
- Car parks can be accessed from Merivale, Melbourne and Grey streets. Please view our access map for the car park entry locations.
- Accessible parking spaces are available in the car parks adjacent to lift lobbies.
ACCESSIBLE SEATING
- There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our Great Hall and Auditoriums.
- BCEC employees are not permitted to physically assist patrons from wheelchairs, walkers or other aids. Where physical assistance is required this must be provided by the patron’s carer.
- If you require accessible seating for events, please email us on [email protected] or call (07) 3308 3492 between 8.30am- 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and our friendly team will be happy to assist.
ACCESSIBLE TOILETS
- Accessible unisex toilets are located throughout the Centre and are located adjacent to major restroom blocks.
- All accessible toilets have hand basins and are fitted with handrails with a monitored emergency duress system installed.
- Accessible unisex toilets are also located in the parenting rooms, change-rooms, medical centres, VIP and Hospitality Suites.
ASSISTANCE ANIMALS
- Guide, hearing and assistance animals may access the BCEC. These animals have been either:
- accredited under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability; or
- accredited by an animal training organisation prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; or
- trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place
- trained animals that meet the assistance animal requirements as outlined in the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA)
- Assistance animals must be identified by use of a valid assistance animal identification card, pass or permit and any of the following;
- an assistance dog harness
- a coat, cape or vest clearly identifying them as an assistance animal
- an identification badge or medallion (displayed, for example, on its harness, collar, leash, coat, cape or vest).
- Uncertified therapy/emotional support/companion animals are not included in the Act, therefore do not meet the legal definition of an assistance animal and do not have the same public access rights. These animals may be refused entry.
WHEELCHAIRS
- Wheelchairs may be borrowed on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge, for use within the building. The wheelchairs are manually operated and may not be taken outside of the building.
- The wheelchairs are located at our Information Desks (Merivale and Grey Street entrances) and Exhibitor Services Office on the Exhibition Concourse.
- BCEC employees are not permitted to physically assist patrons from wheelchairs, walkers or other aids. Where physical assistance is required this must be provided by the patron’s carer.
EMERGENCIES
- If the Centre has to be evacuated public address system announcements will be made and audible alarms will sound. BCEC staff will assist patrons during an emergency evacuation.
- Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs are welcome in our venue. We ask that dogs wear their working vest identifying their role at all times.
HEARING ASSISTANCE
- Hearing loops are installed in all meeting rooms.
- Larger rooms – Plaza Terrace Room, Plaza Ballroom, Great Hall and all exhibition halls can be fitted with loops in required areas and are activated on request.
LIFTS
- Internal lifts have braille signage and control panels that are at a convenient height for people in wheelchairs.
- Each lift is fitted with an emergency button and an emergency telephone and has audible and visual cues to indicate floor levels
GETTING HERE
Transport
- Plan your journey – translink.com.au
- Walking distance – Approximately 3-5 minutes from all accessible public transport stops.
TRAIN
- Closest stop is South Brisbane station.
BUS
- Closest stop is Cultural Centre station.
FERRY
- Closest stop is South Bank Ferry Terminal, 500m from the Brisbane River South Bank.
TAXI/LIMOUSINE
- BCEC has its own designated taxi rank at the main entry at the corner of Merivale & Glenelg Streets, South Brisbane.
- Taxi phones allowing free calls to Yellow Cabs or Black & White Cabs are available for use at our Information Desks in the Main Foyers of Merivale Street and Grey Street.
PRIVATE VEHICLE
- We provide 24 hour undercover parking with a total of 1,500 parking spaces.
- Parking areas can be accessed from Merivale, Melbourne and Grey streets. See our access map for entries.
- Accessible parking spaces are available in Car Park 1, Car Park 2 and Car Park 3 located adjacent to lift lobbies.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS FROM BCEC TO RYDGES HOTEL
- Rydges Hotel has access for wheelchairs from the Plaza level of BCEC through a ramp off to the right-hand-side of the access stairs leading into the hotel.
- At the end of ramp is an intercom that calls Rydges Reception directly to allow access to the hotel. This ramp connects to Level 2 of the hotel, which is an accommodation floor, and from here, guests are able to access the hotel via lifts.
OUR 100% COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY
We constantly endeavour to improve accessibility to all our guests and any comments you have would be most welcomed. Please pass in your comments to any of our staff or contact us.
