Breastfeeding and baby care facilities code

For information on why this code insert should be implemented, as well as supporting strategies that could be undertaken, see Breastfeeding and baby care in the Corporate Plan Tools section of this resource package.

Breastfeeding and baby-care facilities are not considered to be a land use in their own right for the Queensland Planning Provisions, they are likely to be part of a larger land use such as shopping centre or cinema complex, in a similar way that parking and public toilets form part of such larger land uses.

The information in this section may be inserted into an existing land use code, or inserted as a planning scheme policy.

This code insert / planning scheme policy, is intended to apply to new development or modified developments that are required to provide public amenities under the Building Code of Australia. Or if council wants to implement this policy in more buildings, the following alternative is suggested.

This code applies to:^

  1. All new development classed as 5, 6 or 9 under the Building Code of Australia; or
  2. Where class 5, 6 or class 9 buildings are altered or added to; or
  3. Where there is a change of use to class 5, 6 or 9 buildings.

Definition

Breastfeeding and baby-care facility means a facility for the use of carers to attend to the personal needs of babies/toddlers, such as breastfeeding, expressing breast milk, feeding fluids and solids, changing of nappies and the like. The facility is usually provided adjacent to public amenities such as toilets.

  1. The purpose of the Breastfeeding and baby-care facilities code is to develop a network of breastfeeding and baby-care facilities that is of an adequate design, size and is appropriately equipped.
  2. The purpose of the code will be achieved through the following overall outcome:
    1. The inclusion of appropriate breastfeeding and baby care facilities in new development or modified developments that are required to provide public amenities under the Building Code of Australia.
Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes
PO1 New developments, or modified developments that provide public amenities also include a baby-care or parent-care facility that is:

  1. of adequate size and design; and
  2. convenient and private; and
  3. comfortable and safe; and
  4. appropriately equipped; and
  5. easy to find.
 AO1.1 The facility has a minimum dimension of 12m2;ANDAO1.2 The facility is easily accessed:

  1. from the footpath or main circulation area (such as foyer or food court); and
  2. via a manual self-opening door; and
  3. with the assistance of signage and markings;

AND

AO1.3 The facility includes the design features, as per the Breastfeeding and Baby Care Facility Planning Scheme Policy (see following).

Planning Scheme Policy – Design Features for Breastfeeding Baby Care Facilities

As a minimum, breastfeeding and baby care facilities shall include:

  1. Facilities for hand washing and washing of equipment; and
  2. Hand drying facilities; and
  3. Movable or comfortable chairs; and
  4. Pram circulation; and
  5. Easy access to toilet; and
  6. Power points; and
  7. Waste disposal; and
  8. No advertising of artificial formula or toddler follow-on formula.

In addition to the above, the facilities may also provide one or more of the following:

  1. Access for carers who need to care for infants without interfering with the privacy of breastfeeding women
  2. Food preparation area separate to nappy change area, with bottle warming facilities
  3. Provision of cleansing wipes for cleaning baby change table
  4. Microwave
  5. A minimum door entry size of one metre
  6. Nappy disposal unit
  7. Hot water thermostat regulator on taps
  8. Change bench within arms reach of taps so baby can remain attended
  9. Dispenser machine to buy disposable nappies
  10. Dispenser machine for paper cups
  11. Toddler toilet with low mirror, low wash basin with automatic cut off taps, no automatic hand drying facilities and a door able to be pushed open from the inside.

^ Note: Class 5, 6 or 9 of the Building Code of Australia

Class 5: large office blocks, including:

  1. an office building used for professional or commercial purposes, including professional chambers or suites, lawyers’ offices, government offices, advertising agencies and accountant’s offices, excluding buildings of Class 6,7,8 or 9.

Class 6: a shop or other building for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public, including  

  1. an eating room, café, restaurant, milk or soft drink bar; or
  2. a dining room, bar, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel; or
  3. a hairdresser’s or barber’s shop, public laundry, or undertaker’s establishment; or
  4. market or sale room, showroom, or service station.

Class 9: a building of a public nature

  1. Class 9a – a health care building; including those parts of the building set aside as a laboratory; or
  2. Class 9b – an assembly building; including public halls, theatres, cinemas, sporting complexes, churches, transport buildings, schools, early childhood centres, kindergartens, preschools, child minding centres, bus and railway stations, but excluding any other parts of the building that are of another Class; or   
  3. Class 9c – an aged care building.