By Tanya Faulkner
Locals are calling on Cardinia Shire council to rethink its 2018 master plan.
A movement has kickstarted in the small community, to “save the loo in Cockatoo” with locals campaigning to maintain the bathrooms at Alma Treloar Reserve near the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
Committed community member Graham Simpson said the removal of the toilet block was passed in the Cockatoo masterplan for the reserve back in November, 2018, with locals now speaking up against the move.
“They’re near the footpath of the walking track from Emerald Lake to Gembrook, which is about half way on the track.
“A lot of people will only do half of the walk, so they park there and use the bathroom before and after their walk, and they’re quite popular with locals as well,” he said.
Mr Simpson said the removal of the toilet block could have a wider impact on the community.
“Those toilets are commonly used with walkers, and what will they do if they’re removed?
“People may stop coming to do the walk if there are no nearby facilities close to the carpark and convenient on the track.
“While there have been new bathrooms installed by the Scout Hall, and in town, these are the closest and most commonly used.
“More people use those bathrooms than the off-leash dog park at the other end of the reserve,” he said.
Several locals have banded together in a group created on Facebook, with several sharing their displeasure of the removal of the toilet block, and some sharing their history.
One post shared that these were one of the first facilities built on the reserve in the 1970s, and saved several locals during the Ash Wednesday bushfires.
Another local suggested they should be heritage listed, similar to McBride Street Kindergarten.
Mr Simpson said, whilst the toilets are a little bit dated, the cost of council demolishing the bathrooms wouldn’t be worth it.
“The bathrooms have been there a while, but the building itself is strong and the plumbing is already there.
“It would be more cost effective for the council to simply give the bathrooms a refresh and make them nicer, instead of removing them.
“The reserve was all done up by council and state government, which cost thousands of dollars to do.
“It’s a long skinny reserve, so why would they need to be removed?” he said.
Mr Simpson also said the decision to change the space into additional car parking didn’t make sense.
“The car park is big enough to service the users.
“Even when there is a tournament at the bowls club, there are still spaces for walkers and locals to park at the reserve,” he said.
Cardinia Shire Council’s general manager liveable communities Lili Rosic said Council has delayed the decision to remove the old public toilets at Alma Treloar Reserve, while new accessible public toilets are being completed.
“These toilets were earmarked for removal as part of the implementation of the Alma Treloar Reserve Masterplan, endorsed by Council in November 2018.
“As part of the masterplan, Council recommended that the existing toilets be removed, as they were not centrally located within the reserve and failed to meet quality, comfort and compliance standards.
“The new toilets are now open to the public and are located next to the Scout Hall building,” she said.
Ms Rosic said the location for the new public toilets has been selected to increase accessibility, as it is central to the other amenities on offer at the Alma Treloar Reserve and surrounding areas.
“There are also accessible toilets located in the town centre on McBride Street in Cockatoo,” she said.
Additionally, minor works such as landscaping and fencing at the reserve are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Ms Rosic is encouraging the community to get involved in community planning, as the feedback is taken into consideration when making plans in Cardinia.
“Community feedback on the new toilets was considered as part of the Masterplan development and more recently to inform the artwork design on the exterior of the new toilets.
“Feedback was also considered as part of the 23/24FY Council budget process.
“Any future changes to the endorsed Alma Treloar Reserve Masterplan will require further community consultation and Council endorsement,” she said.
For future updates, locals can contact council directly, or visit cardinia.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
