In September 2007, Council formally adopted the  Port Phillip Public Toilet Strategy. The highest priority delivery within this report is the need for a new facility within Fitzroy Street. The location of a new toilet facility forms part of a series of streetscape projects being coordinated through the Fitzroy Street Masterplan.
Why a toilet in Fitzroy Street?
At present there is no facility to accommodate visitors in the heart of the Fitzroy Street commercial area. Existing public toilets are located within Catani Gardens and at the Metropol complex. Both these facilities are not visible or easily accessible from Fitzroy Street, while the Metropol toilets are not always available to the public.
Over recent years, council has received numerous complaints raised by residents and traders on public urination, in Fitzroy Street particularly during the evening. Problem areas include the commercial precinct (doorways, laneways) and on private property as visitors travel back into the city after an evening out.
This project is required to provide a safe and easily accessible public toilet for all users in this busy entertainment precinct. The facility required is 1 or 2 unisex cubicles. The cubical will enclose all ancillary facilities (such as hand washing, baby change). The cubicle will be designed to meet disability access standards.
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Toilet Design: What makes a good Public Toilet?
A number of principles underpin what makes a public toilet. Key aspects to consider in the planning siting and design of a new facility include:
Visibility & Orientation:
Locate toilets where it can be observed from adjoining uses and activities, orientating the entrance towards these activities. This will increase opportunities for natural surveillance, improving safety. This will further improve the presence of the facility minimising chance soilings in the street.
Accessibility:
Public toilets are essential pieces of public infrastructure (used by both males and females), that must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (a federal antidiscrimination law that amongst other objectives, seeks to eliminate discrimination of access to premises and public infrastructure).
Crime Prevention:
The design must use materials and fittings that minimise opportunities for vandalism, graffiti and anti social behaviour. The immediate area should be clear (e.g. no seating, planting) to discourage loitering in the vicinity of the toilet as well as avoiding opportunities for entrapment.
Lighting:
Given the night time function of Fitzroy Street, lighting will be an essential component to engender a sense of confidence in the safety of this facility.
Impacts on the immediate locality:
The design must carefully consider how it fits in with the look and feel of the formal and historic, yet emerging contemporary architecture found within immediate proximity of the site (to be selected). Within the design, detailed consideration will be raised including:
- the proximity of adjoining uses;
- views towards the facility from the shopfronts, entrances and windows of adjoining buildings;
- the architecture of adjacent buildings;
- the location of established vegetation; and
- possible impacts on traffic including cars, bikes and pedestrians.
The review of sites will consider these above issues, and the principles outlined in the City of Port Phillip's 'Guidelines for the Design of Public Toilets'.
Download the Public Toilets Design Guidelines 2007
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Selecting a Site & Design
Four sites have been identified as possible locations for the public toilets:
Site 1: Adjacent to Skate Park Facility South of Lakeside Drive.
Site 2: Jackson Street Carpark
Site 3: Park Street Tram Terminus
Site 4: Intersection of Park Lane / Fitzroy Street
You can download an initial appraisal of these sites - Toilet Summary Assessment of Sites
For further information you can contact the project officer on 9209 6316 or send an email to place@portphillip.vic.gov.au
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