Have your say on Memorial Square Public Toilet Redevelopment

Published on 06 September 2021

Colac Otway residents are being encouraged to have their say on concept plans for the redevelopment of the Memorial Square Public Toilet facilities.

The proposed plans include a Changing Places Facility (a customised adult change facility), bank of 10 gender neutral cubicles, family and baby change room and accessible cubicle.

Colac Otway Shire Mayor Kate Hanson said preliminary consultation had been undertaken with key stakeholder groups to provide direction to Council on the plans.

“Council held discussions with Colac and Surrounds Special Needs Support Group, nearby businesses, and bus and taxi companies to gather input toward the design for the Memorial Square Public Toilets.

“The west side of Colac’s Memorial Square is considered an ideal location for a Changing Places Facility as it’s central to the business district and easily accessible by car and foot.

“There are currently few Changing Places Facilities in the region with the nearest being Winchelsea, Anglesea, Port Campbell or Warrnambool.

“If we’re able to offer this facility in Colac, we open our region up to a whole sector of the community who may not otherwise have found it convenient or possible to travel to Colac Otway and surrounds.”

In data gathered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Memorial Square public toilets were Council’s most heavily used public toilet facility.

“The building does not cater to demand and, prior to COVID-19, there were often queues of people waiting to use the facilities during the peak holiday season,” Cr Hanson said.

“In 2019, Council installed counters to assess usage of the facility and help inform the design. These showed approximately 1,000 people use the toilets on average per day, with up to 226 in one hour during extreme peak times.

“I encourage all interested community members to visit Council’s website and take a look at the plans.

“As a key public facility for our community and visitors to the region, the Memorial Square Public Toilet upgrade is an important project for the people of Colac Otway to provide input and have their say.”

The estimated cost of the Memorial Square Toilet redevelopment is $1.16million (inclusive of detailed design, demolition of the existing facility, parking and pavement upgrades, landscaping and contingencies) with Council to explore external funding opportunities for the project.

Plans and supporting documents are now available to view on the Have Your Say section of Council’s website. The public exhibition period and submissions close 11 October, 2021.