Public toilets in council-managed parks are few and far between, according to a City of Whittlesea resident.
Nicole Taylor took to social media last week to raise her concerns about the council’s lack of toilet facilities.
Ms Taylor posted on the council’s Facebook page about having to drive 10 minutes to find a park with a toilet.
“We have pre-schoolers, one toilet- trained the other in the process,” she posted on Facebook.
“There are so many parks in the newer housing estates with barbecues.
“But unless you can hold on for a
few hours or are happy to have your children relieve themselves in the gardens, there are few parks in the City of Whittlesea that can be used to their full potential.”
According to Whittlesea parks and open space manager Kristen Jackson,
the council does not have a policy
for providing toilets in public open
space.
“The issue will be addressed in council’s new Open Space Strategy, which is currently being developed,” she said.
Once the strategy is finalised it will provide guidance on what types of areas should have public toilets based on criteria such as proximity to other toilets and the types of services already available.
Ms Jackson said developers had an obligation to provide open spaces yet there was no requirement for them to build toilets.
Once developers build a park, they are obliged to manage it for two summers and three months before it becomes the council’s responsibility.
Lexi Cottee
