Liam McNally
A petition for a toilet facility to be built on Arnold’s Creek Reserve has been launched by community members who frequent the park.
Arnolds Creek Reserve currently has no toilet facility open to members of the public, after one was removed in April 2020 due to privacy and security issues created by dual access via both internal and external access doors.
One of the petition leaders, Ravinder Kaur, said she has been hearing demand for from her community for “quite some time”, and that she’s heard reports of people with health issues having accidents at the reserve.
“… And the kids as well, they just cant run to their houses when they are desperate so they’ve been taken around the bushes somewhere hiding which is again not very sanitary,” she said.
“That’s when I thought this has to be brought to the council.
“I think that public toilets are part of basic needs and it’s essential within parks … the impact for users is significant, for people living with health conditions, women, parents, children, these users need to feel confident.”
When the petition ends its signature-taking phase, Melton MP Steve McGhie has agreed to present the petition to council.
“Local residents have raised a genuine issue and I am happy to support and present their petition to the Melton council,” he said.
Melton council operations manager Brendan Sell said council accepts the need for a new toilet facility in the reserve since the last one was removed.
“Council is aware of the need to build a public toilet at Arnolds Creek Reserve and has allocated funds for this project, with works expected to begin in the 2023-2024 financial year,” he said.
Community members interested in adding their name to the petition can contact Ravinder via phone.
Details: 0433594807
