New and replacement public toilets
Location
Cost
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. This is invaluable to our traders who are continuing to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The new toilets are in line with recommendations from Council's Public Toilet Plan 2013-23 and the locations were selected after a thorough review and in consultation with key stakeholders where required. We believe these locations are optimal for their contribution to a sustainable, accessible, equitable community important to the functioning of our City.
The impact
Construction periods can be found under each Project location below. Impact will be minimal during construction. There may be some minor noise at times.
Objectives
Council's Public Toilet Plan 2013-23 identified Waterfront Place and Fitzroy St as busy, vibrant precincts where public toilet provision was lacking and we have identified key, feasible locations where public toilets would best serve the community in a safe, accessible and sustainable way. Additionally, we are replacing the existing Exeloo at Shakespeare Grove / O’Donnell gardens with new modular, accessible amenities, and rebuilding the Alma Park toilets which recently sustained fire damage.
Coles carpark public toilets, Balaclava
Due to the ongoing safety concerns the toilets were closed on May 9. Signage has been erected to inform the public of the toilet closure and alternative suitable facilities.
Construction is set to commence around September 2023 and we anticipate it will be completed in October 2023.
Alma Park, St Kilda East
The toilets at Alma Park were damaged by fire. Assessment by Council and its insurers have written off the building and it requires a full reconstruction. The remaining building has been demolished to ensure the safety of park users.
The public toilets provided much needed amenity for the busy park, from community members and sporting groups. We have installed temporary toilets until new toilets are constructed to maintain the required service levels.
Construction commenced around August 2023 and we anticipate it will be completed in mid to late April 2024.
Public toilets next to the Sandbar Cafe, Middle Park
As of June 29, 2023 the public toilet upgrade is complete at Sandbar Café, Middle Park and the toilets are now open for the public.
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
New public toilets have been completed as of June 2023 that will cater 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
Construction on the Shakespeare grove public toilet is now complete.
In response to community concerns regarding the safety and cleanliness of the Exeloo at Shakespeare Grove, we replaced this toilet with a modern, accessible modular design which incorporates crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) elements. This will assist in alleviating some of the anti-social behaviour often identified in this space.
A new public toilet will encourage people to remain longer in this thriving public space.
New modular toilets at Shakespeare Grove
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
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.