UNSIGHTLY modern toilets, a lack of safe parking, and proximity to a busy road are just a few reasons Mitchell Street residents are up in arms about the relocation of public toilets in Nyora. 

The current public toilets have served generations of locals and visitors alike. They may be ageing and in need of a facelift, but they sit tucked away, blending in with the park, according to residents and parkgoers, they work. Now, with South Gippsland Shire Council proposing to move them, residents on Mitchell Street are alarmed by what is being put forward – and by what has been left out.

Two possible relocation sites, dubbed Option A and Option B, were listed in a community survey this month. But according to neighbours, both would come at the direct expense of residents’ quality of life, safety, and even their property values.

Option A, preferred by South Gippsland Shire Council because it sits on council-owned land rather than Crown land, would place the new toilet block on Mitchell Street, directly across from homes, just 5.51 metres in from the roadside. Residents are blunt: this is “unacceptable”.

“Mitchell Street narrows towards Davis Street,” Mitchell Street resident Denise Stringer explained. 

“When friends or family visit and park on the street, and you’ve also got people stopping outside the proposed toilet block, you’ll be blocking the street.”

Mrs Stringer is also upset that, to her knowledge, nowhere else in South Gippsland are toilets placed so close to residential homes.

“Melbourne wouldn’t be what it is today, without Nyora,” Mrs Stringer continued, explaining the historical significance of the township. “We have period homes and shopfronts lining Mitchell Street. My home is 1920s, we’ve spent years renovating it, and now we face the prospect of looking directly out to a modern toilet block with doors that face Mitchell Street. We’ll see people coming and going all the time – it’s outrageous.”

Option B shifts the proposed site closer to the playground and skate park, but it brings a new set of problems.

Long-time residents recall the spot flooding regularly, drawing ibis to feed and leaving the area boggy. On more than one occasion, mowing equipment has sunk into the ground.

“It doesn’t make sense,” fellow Mitchell Street resident Sharon Bradley said. 

“Council says the current site has drainage issues, so they want to move it, but Option B floods too. Why not fix the drainage where it is, instead of creating the same problem somewhere else?”

According to South Gippsland Shire Council’s Your Say survey, the current location of the toilets does not comply with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or Access and Mobility guidelines.

The two proposed locations for the new facilities would increase accessibility, improve passive surveillance, be closer to the bus stop, and be a greater opportunity to connect rail users to the town centre. 

Three local real estate agents have warned homeowners they could lose $50,000–$100,000 in property value if Option A and even Option B proceeds.

Mrs Stringer, a vocal advocate for Nyora through the Nyora Progress Association, worked with council staff to identify a third option, only to be told the online survey would not be updated. Instead, survey participants would have to tick “other” and manually describe their preferred site.

Option C would see the toilets placed behind the skatepark, closer to Henley Street.

“Why can’t it just be put on the survey, so people can actually vote for it?” Mrs Stringer asked. “If it’s viable enough to suggest, then it’s viable enough to include. They even suggested we start a petition, but there’s already one with hundreds of signatures calling for the toilets to stay where they are.”

Mrs Bradley added: “The new toilet block is not in keeping with the appearance of the town. The old toilets are quaint and look beautiful in the surroundings, though they could use renovation. And there is plenty of parking at the rear along Henley Street.”

Parking, which is also perfect for caravans and tow vehicles.

“The park is a hive of activity. It’s the start of the rail trail,” Mrs Stringer said. 

“The monies should go towards fixing the drainage that Council claims is needed at the current facility site, renovating the existing toilets and upgrading parts of the playground that are aging – it needs a new slide and swings,” Mrs Bradley added.

For Mrs Bradley, the location of the current facilities is ideal when watching over grandchildren. 

“I can still watch my grandchildren on the playground if one needs to use the toilet. Parents have stated their disappointment; they don’t want the toilets moved. It’s also not safe to have them right beside a main access road. Trucks are always pulling up for deliveries to the general store.”

Residents also noted that a large tree would likely need to be removed for Option A, and raised concerns about how close public toilets can be to residential homes.

“There’s been no consultation, no discussion with affected residents. A survey is not a discussion. There should be face-to-face meetings,” Mrs Stringer added, noting she is yet to receive any response to an email sent to the three Strzelecki Ward councillors on September 18; however, acknowledges that Cr Nathan Hersey has been in correspondence via telephone. 

A South Gippsland council spokesperson said the survey would not be reconfigured to include an Option C, as an ‘other’ field already allows residents to suggest locations. “The location suggested as ‘C’ also has limitations when it comes to meeting Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and Access and Mobility guidelines,” they said. 

While the survey will inform decision-making, it will not be the only factor, with design standards and other considerations also taken into account. 

When the Sentinel-Times asked a group of young locals at the park on Sunday what they thought, the responses were blunt.

“They should be out the back near the rail trail so people coming off it can easily access them,” one said.

“Knock ’em down and rebuild in the same spot – they’re out of the way there,” another added.

A third echoed Mitchell Street residents’ concern: “People shouldn’t have them out the front of their homes or wake up and look out on them.”

Though teenagers themselves, they agreed that Option A, and even B, would be too far from the main playground for younger kids.

Have your say until Sunday, October 12, at yoursay.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/nyora-public-toilet.  

Read more online at sgst.com.au