New toilet block cost slammed

By Tania Martin
KNOX City Council has defended a project that will see a $600,000 toilet block built in Boronia.
This comes after Knox Ratepayers Association president Peter Baird slammed the plans as a ‘disgraceful’ waste of money.
“Should we expect gold plated taps, heated seats and diamond encrusted hand dryers,” Mr Baird said.
“Will there perhaps be special luxury cubicles reserved for councillors or are they fitting wide screen televisions in front of every seat.”
Mr Baird claims that the building of new toilets in Dorset Square could be done for half the price.
“An efficient private sector organisation could complete this project in less than half the council’s estimated cost,” Mr Baird said.
But the council has defended the cost of the new toilets saying that it will be significantly improved, which will include measures to increase water efficiency at the site.
Acting director of city development Andrew Paxton said the project would also include the installation of a water tank and solar panels on the roof of the toilets.
Mr Paxton said the council was committed to improving amenities for local residents, in line with its public toilet plan.
He said after extensive consultation with the community, the condition of the local toilets was assessed and ranked in terms of quality, safety, location and ease of maintenance.
“Improvements to the Dorset Square toilets were identified as a high priority,” Mr Paxton said.
Mr Baird said that one of the key reasons for the council imposing an infrastructure levy on its ratepayers this year was to finance the public toilet program.
“If they can’t build them cheaper than $600,000 it’s no wonder they had to put the rates up,” he said.
“It’s a sad commentary on the efficiency of Knox Council that they have to spend a fortune just so that we can spend a penny,” Mr Baird said.