NEW public amenities at the heart of the Leongatha railway precinct on the Great Southern Rail Trail have fallen well short of community expectations according to local residents.
“It’s a long way from ALDI to go to the toilet,” said Lyn Tapscott of Leongatha.
Despite a significant upgrade to the station site at Leongatha, the public facilities are not considered convenient enough for people who have difficulty walking.
“People are forced to use the hotel toilets,” said Ms Tapscott.
“It is difficult for children, the elderly or disabled to use the hotel toilets and it’s a long way to the Municipal Hall or Leongatha Station,” Ms Tapscott complained.
“We need public toilets near ALDI or in the carpark at IGA.”
John Tapscott agreed that Leongatha needed better public facilities.
“This town’s growing,” he said.
“It’s a retirement town with lots of people moving from the eastern suburbs.”
According to South Gippsland Shire the Great Southern Rail Trail Railway Precincts Development Project involved undertaking significant upgrades to the railway sites at Leongatha and Korumburra in order to improve the economic vitality of each town centre and to assist in attracting visitors to the towns and the overall shire.
The upgrades included building new public amenities.
“A unisex toilet is needed,” said Ms Tapscott.
“NDIS carers have trouble helping clients go to the toilet; it can be very difficult in a wheelchair; you need to park in the hotel carpark to go to the hotel toilet.”
Despite writing letters to South Gippsland Shire Ms Tapscott has received no satisfaction.
A new Public Amenities Policy adopted by South Gippsland Shire Council in 2017 formalised a coordinated approach to the management of public toilets.
The policy established Council’s responsibilities for the ongoing management of existing public amenities, guidelines to follow when considering whether or not to add a public amenity to council’s current cleaning and maintenance services, and guidelines to follow when considering a new public amenity.
“The new policy will ensure the standard of service continues to meet community expectations and will also provide clarity and direction for the community,” said South Gippsland Shire.
“Council prides itself on the provision of clean public toilets throughout the shire and often receives positive feedback on the high standard of the facilities and their cleanliness.”
