New and replacement public toilets
Location
Cost
Milestones
Why are we doing this?
Clean, safe and accessible public toilets play a major role in the liveability of our City for residents and visitors. Public toilets, particularly near high-activity places such as public transport, parks, playgrounds, sports grounds and the foreshore encourage locals and visitors to spend more time in our public spaces.
Well-located public toilets can boost footfall and encourage people to spend a longer period in shopping precincts. The new toilets and upgraded facilities are in line with recommendations from Council's Public Toilet Plan 2023-33. We believe these locations are optimal for their contribution to a sustainable, accessible, equitable community important to the functioning of our City.
The impact
Impact will be minimal during construction. There may be some minor noise at times. Temporary toilets will be provided in most cases during the construction period to ensure we continue to provide these much needed amenities.
Objectives
The purpose of the Public Toilet Plan is to ensure the City of Port Phillip is providing public toilets that meet current and future requirements, that the general public want to use, in a cost effective manner. The plan considers a number of objectives for the improvement of public toilet provision including capital works investment to uplift:
- Condition
- Safety
- Functionality
- Accessibility and Inclusion
Based on this a 10-year works program has been developed. This page outlines the recently completed, and in-progress public toilet projects.
Edwards Park – In Progress
The existing toilet block at Edwards Park is poorly located, in poor condition, hard to access and not compliant to current DDA standards. It is proposed to build a new modular toilet block adjacent Esplanade West near to the childrens playground as shown in the map below.
Update: A petition was received at the February 19 Council meeting opposing the proposed location. All works on the project have been paused until a response can is considered at the March 19 Council meeting.
Edwards Park map
St Kilda Botanical Gardens Public Toilet – In Progress
The St Kilda Botanic Gardens public amenities, located within the gardens and bordered by Tennyson, Dickens, Herbert, and Blessington Streets, face ongoing challenges. The current toilet block is outdated, with limited capacity (just 5 toilets), resulting in congestion and long wait times, particularly during the busy warmer months, and require regular temporary toilet hire to meet demand. They are also the subject of frequent maintenance issues, including vandalism and misuse.
A 2021 accessibility compliance audit highlighted the need for upgrades as the existing toilets do not meet current Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance. To address the compliance and capacity issues, we are proposing to design and construct a new accessible toilet block. The toilet block is likely to feature additional female toilets, male toilets, DDA-compliant unisex toilets, and an ambulant all-gender toilet — to better serve all park users.
This new accessible toilet block will be an architecturally designed single storey building to blend in with the natural elements of the park. These toilets will be built in addition to the existing toilet block, to increase overall amenity provision within the park. Feasibility and location studies have informed the proposed location of the new toilet block near to the children’s playground, as shown in the map below, pending Heritage Victoria’s approval
Public consultation on the proposed toilets will commence in mid March 2025.
Map showing proposed new location.
Catani Gardens Accessible Public Toilet – Paused
Council had included a simple accessibility upgrade to the existing public toilets within Catani Gardens. This was proposed to be a simple internal redesign to increase circulation space within the existing accessible toilet to meet current standards.
Unfortunately, upon further investigation into the building, additional building works were noted to be required, which, if not undertaken at this time would have resulted in the future demolition of the upgrade works and therefore not deemed value for money. As a result the current project has been cancelled and a full toilet upgrade will be planned for future years.
Coles carpark public toilets, Balaclava - completed
The toilet construction was completed in December 2024. The mural and finishing touches were completed and the facilities were open to the Public on 20 December 2024.
Coles car park Balaclava
Alma Park, St Kilda East - completed
The toilets at Alma Park which were damaged by fire have now been rebuilt and were re-opened to the public in July 2024.
The public toilets provide much needed amenity for the busy park, from community members and sporting groups
Public toilets next to the Sandbar Cafe, Middle Park - completed
In public toilet upgrade was completed and open to the public back in June 2023. The upgrade converted the previous men's public toilets into one compliant unisex accessible toilet, and three ambulant unisex toilets. The ramp was also modified and extended to provide easier access to both the toilets and the beach front.
Sandbar toilet ramp, exterior of the new toilets and an example an interior cubicle.
Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne - completed
The public toilet upgrade was completed and open to the public back in June 2023, these are catering to high demand for public toilets during daylight hours and increased visitation from cruise ship passengers. The location is more centrally located with higher visibility from the tram stop, car park and Bay Trail and will provide easier access to cater to our community.
Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda - completed
The public toilet upgrade was completed and open to the public back in September 2022. To address community concerns regarding the safety and cleanliness the toilet was upgraded to a modern, accessible modular design which incorporates crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) elements. This will assist in alleviating some of the anti-social behavior often identified in this space.
New modular toilets at Shakespeare Grove
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda - ceased
UPDATE: At the 5 July 2023 Council meeting a Notice of Motion by Councillor Rhonda Clark moved that:
- work on the Fitzroy Street toilet block be immediately discontinued
- an alternative Fitzroy Street location to be revaluated no sooner than 2025
- Council consults with the relevant stakeholders, including nearby residents, community organisations and St Kilda Park Primary School as part of any future revaluation process to ensure transparency and gather input.
This motion was carried by a vote of five to four.
Following the notice of motion being carried, the project was immediately ceased.