Public Toilet Strategy adopted

Ballarat City Council adopted the Public Toilet Strategy 2023 at its November meeting.

The Public Toilet Strategy was informed by an extensive program of stakeholder consultation and two rounds of community consultation, involving direct feedback from 741 people across the municipality.

The strategy makes 68 recommendations to improve the existing and future network of public toilets, ranging from location and distribution to improving the design of public toilets, making toilets more accessible and inclusive, and the maintenance, cleaning and management of public toilets.

It also outlines a 10-year capital works plan, dependent on funding in future budgets, which includes a program of updates, refurbishments and renewals.  

The strategy includes recommendations for the construction of three new public toilets within the next three years – in Little Bridge Street at the Bridge Mall, along the south-western corner of Lake Wendouree and at De Soza Park, Buninyong.  

It recommends public toilet facility upgrades at the Victoria Park public toilet, a minor upgrade at the Weeramar Park public toilet, and upgrades at the Parent Place and Town Hall public toilets.

It also proposes alignment with other City of Ballarat strategies, local laws, policy and regulations, as well as a number of minor upgrades to facilities such as hooks, seats, signage and provision of soap.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the Public Toilet Strategy 2023 will now inform the planning, provision, design and management of public toilets across the municipality.

“Thank you to everyone who provided their feedback in the two rounds of community consultation and helped to inform the Public Toilet Strategy,” he said.

“We look forward to implementing the Public Toilet Strategy and achieving outcomes that will ensure our entire community has access to facilities that are high quality, accessible, safe and inclusive for all.”

The City of Ballarat manages 55 public toilets across the municipality.

The strategy will replace the existing Public Toilet Planning Framework 2015 and Draft Public Toilet Plan 2021, and aligns with City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025 Goal 4 - ‘A city that conserves and enhances our natural and built assets’.