Have your say on public toilets in parks

Published on 28 August 2024

Have your say on the strategy for managing public toilets in MidCoast parks.

The draft MidCoast Public Toilets in Parks Strategy 2024 – 2035 is on public exhibition from Wednesday 28 August to Wednesday 2 October 2024.

98 out of 100 Council’s public toilets are in parks making this strategy a comprehensive plan for managing these important assets.

The strategy aims to ensure that Council’s public toilets in parks are designed to be safe, clean, space-efficient, environmentally sustainable, accessible, and built to last.

MidCoast Council has completed an audit of public toilets in parks to assess each facility’s condition, location and usage.

A draft action plan has been developed with recommendations to maintain, upgrade, replace, remove, refurbish or convert toilets to meet the needs of people using the space.

“We want to make sure all toilets include soap dispensers, paper towels, toilet seats, and easy-to-use door latches,” said MidCoast Council’s Manager of Strategy and Projects, Amanda Hatton.

“We are also looking at including bicycle racks and water bubblers in key locations.”

“New and upgraded facilities in highly visited locations will provide wheelchair, unisex and parenting access,” said Ms Hatton.

The draft plan proposes 55 facilities that will be maintained in the future. Another 46 facilities are proposed to be replaced, upgraded, refurbished or converted. Six new facilities are proposed to be built in busy places with no current public toilets in the nearby surrounding area. Five facilities that are not well located or have low usage are identified for removal.

The draft plan includes better signage and promotion through Council’s website and the National Public Toilet Map website and app.

The National Public Toilet Map shows the location of more than 23,000 public and private public facilities across Australia, including toilets, adult change and baby care. Information is provided about each toilet, such as location, accessibility details, opening hours and features like sharps disposal and showers. For more information, visit the National Public Toilet Maps website: https://toiletmap.gov.au/3969.

Bins for blokes help provide for men with incontinence. People can request Council to install these bins in specific facilities as part of the strategy.

“We encourage everyone to take a look at the proposed recommendations in the draft strategy and to provide their feedback to let us know if we have got it right or missed anything,” said Ms Hatton.

Community feedback will be considered for inclusion in the strategy before it is endorsed by Council.

The projects in the strategy will be largely funded by future grants with a percentage of proposals funded by MidCoast Council’s capital works budget. Management and maintenance costs are provided by MidCoast Council.

The draft strategy is a recommendation from the MidCoast Open Space and Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2035. Feedback from that consultation has been used to inform the draft strategy.

Have your say at https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/draft-public-toilets-parks-strategy before Wednesday 2 October 2024.