Toilet clean-up in the can

– Paul Pickering
IN RESPONSE to incessant public concern, Knox City Council has endorsed a plan to overhaul its network of public toilets.
Having completed an exhausting assessment of its 59 public toilets, council officers recommended funding of more than $2.3 million over the next three years to refurbish or upgrade all of its facilities.
Knox mayor Jim Penna said: “Results of council’s annual community survey has consistently indicated that the community has a low level of satisfaction with public toilets.”
Dobson Ward councillor Karen Orpen said: “Clearly people feel very strongly about expectations of public toilets and perception is not matching reality.”
Cr Orpen noted that public toilets in Ferntree Gully were among the worst in the municipality.
In fact, facilities at the Ferntree Gully Recreational Reserve, the Tim Neville Arboretum and the Ferntree Gully Village Shopping Centre made up three of the council’s top six priority venues.
The overhaul will also provide significant environmental benefits through the provision of measures such as spring-loaded tapware, light-sensitive switches and grey water for flushing.
While the proposed funding is still subject to consideration against Knox’s long-term financial strategy, the council was unanimous in its support for the plan.
“Council’s public toilet plan will result in people feeling safer to use public toilets that are clean, accessible, environmentally sustainable and aesthetically designed,” said Cr Penna.