Council manages more than 110 public toilet facilities, including more than 80 freestanding public toilet buildings across Redlands Coast. A 2020 report into Council’s public toilets revealed this is a high provision per capita compared with similar south-east Queensland local government Councils.
Council manages public toilets strategically, with clear planning that helps ensure the right level of facilities to meet community needs: enough toilets to be useful, and fair, but not so many to be inefficient. Strategic planning involves consideration of factors including toilet condition and performance, levels of service and risk management.
Public toilets in parks
Not all parks have a toilet! Public toilets are usually located in what are known as destination parks or community parks. These parks support longer stays with facilities and activities including barbecues, foreshore areas and larger play spaces. When public toilets in destination or community parks reach end-of-life, they may require replacement due to poor or non-compliant design, location or building condition.
Building new toilets
Since 2010, Council has built 20 public toilets including facilities at 15 new locations. More toilets are expected to be built in future, including those as part of catalyst projects like the Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct.
It is important that Council builds toilets in locations where they are most needed. It costs around $24,000 a year to operate a public toilet facility, including cleaning, maintenance, and asset management costs – regardless of how many people use them.
Smart and innovative
When Council builds new toilets or renews or refurbishes parts of existing toilets, smart and innovative features may be built into the design. Features such as water-saving fixtures, leak-detecting fixtures, usage counters, treatment systems, and auto-locking doors are all possible.
The new toilets at the Eastern Escarpment Hinterland Experience have auto-locking doors and an eco-friendly treatment system. At Thornlands Community Park, a ‘changing places’ cubicle helps ensure that everyone enjoying the all-abilities play space and accessible parkland can stay a little longer.
Toilet refurbishments
Council may undertake a few public toilet refurbishments each year to improve accessibility, water savings, quality, serviceability and appearance.
Public toilet removal
The factors determining removal of Council assets such as toilets include asset life, condition and performance, location and walkable distance to residences, usage levels, park classification, duplication within walking distance, non-compliance and maintenance needs. Consideration of these factors helps ensure Council is strategic in efficiently maintaining the appropriate service provision of toilets across Redlands Coast.
In 2020, Council identified under-performing public toilets for removal. These all had low usage, were in poor condition, located unsuitably (in neighbourhood parks), and were not compliant with building standards or guidelines for accessibility. Council removed three toilets in mid-2022, and more will need to be removed in future years. Savings from these removals will be directed towards refurbishing and replacing existing toilets and installing new public toilets where they are more needed.
A little more about why toilets in neighbourhood parks are not renewed when they reach end-of-life…
When toilets in neighbourhood parks reach end-of-life they are usually removed. Neighbourhood parks are low-key and have equipment and facilities suitable for shorter stays compared to more prominent destination-style parks.
So, while having a toilet in your local neighbourhood park can feel convenient, the facilities at the park probably mean you’re only staying for a little while, and you could more than likely wait until you get home. We know that most neighbourhood park users prefer to do this – because the toilet paper usage is nearly always very low.
Regardless of usage though, having a toilet in the park costs ratepayers around $24,000 every year.
Toiletmap.gov.au
When you have to go, you have to go. Easily find toilets using the National Public Toilet Map at www.toiletmap.gov.au.
Some toilets on this website are managed by Councils, but others are provided by businesses such as shopping centres, service stations and restaurants.