Decision details

Moved by Councillor Arkins, seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         in the interests of safety and security, the City implements, wherever possible, best practice design principles when considering the location, orientation, design and operation of public toilet facilities, in accordance with the City’s Public Toilet Strategy (2014);

(ii)        the need for increased toilet access, also outlined in the City’s Public Toilet Strategy (2014);

(iii)       public toilets provide important amenity for people experiencing homelessness, and particularly those people sleeping rough. It is important that public toilets are accessible to people sleeping rough at all hours, and at multiple locations across the City; 

(iv)       some public toilets are open 24 hours where they are well located for passive surveillance and security of users;

(v)        the work of the City thus far in planning an extra 16 Automated Public Toilets (APTs), which are self-maintained through timed cleaning and unlocking mechanisms;

(vi)       that current opening hour descriptions for both existing and planned APTs, such as “sunrise” and “shortly after sunset”, do not provide clarity on when APTs are actually available;

(vii)      that inconsistent APT opening hours across the LGA disincentivises use, by adding an unnecessary layer of complexity to the process of finding a toilet; and

(B)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         investigate the implementation of a 24-hour opening time for all APTs; and

(ii)        report back to Council as soon as possible.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

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