Sam Willoughby BMX Facility: Cove and Happy Valley clubs could foot public toilet bill

Two local BMX clubs could be forced to foot the bill for cleaning and maintenance of a public toilet at a new $13m complex.

Two southern suburbs BMX clubs could be forced to foot the cost of maintaining a public toilet at the new multimillion dollar complex at O’Halloran Hill.

Last week, Marion Council decided the cost to maintain and clean the publicly accessible toilet at the Sam Willoughby International BMX track would form part of lease negotiations with both the Cove and Happy Valley BMX clubs.

Happy Valley BMX Club president James Richards said the club hadn’t received any notification of the plan until “right at the end” of the process.

“We feel like they’ve just gone ahead and done it without really consulting with the clubs and letting us have our input until the last minute,” Mr Richards said.

“We’re non for profit so … this could impact us a lot especially with some of the costs the council is talking about.

“It’s just outrageous.”

Artist Impressions of Marion Council's Sam Willoughby BMX Facility and Soccer Grounds. Credit: Greenway Architects

The toilet within the $13 million facility would be open to the public – including visitors to the nearby Glenthorne National Park – daily between the hours of 8am and 8pm until an alternative toilet facility is built nearby.

Mr Richards said he was also concerned of the possibility of vandalism, break ins and anti-social behaviour if the facility toilets were open to the public.

“The implications of having the public toilet there could be not good and then we could have to fork out the money to rectify that,” he said.

“We’ll work with the council and try to come up with a happy solution, we’re not going to throw our arms up in the air and be complete turkeys but it needs to be rectified.”

The Cove BMX Club chairman Chris Hanna said he wasn’t concerned as long as the cost was “fair and reasonable”.

Artist impressions of the Sam Willoughby BMX Centre to be built at O'Halloran Hill. Credit: Greenway Architects

“I don’t think the decision at the moment to pass on those costs is necessarily unfair, it’s just at what percentage it’s passed on will be whether it’s just and fair or not,” he said.

“We are still working with the councils and so far the councils have been supportive of the project.”

Since 2016, Marion Council has been working with Onkaparinga Council and the State Government to establish the facility.

Onkaparinga councillor – and ward councillor for the area – Marion Themeliotis said the decision to pass costs to the club was “so wrong”.

“Over the last year, we know our community clubs, groups and organisations have not been immune to the effects of COVID-19. Financially, it has been tough,” she said.

“Marion Council clearly doesn’t want to ease that burden.

“Instead, through this motion, they are handballing about $30,000 of maintenance and cleaning costs of a public toilet over to these struggling clubs.”

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the council would continue to work with the clubs to finalise the details of the lease agreement and exact costs for maintenance of the toilets.

“Marion Council’s concern has been having a safe toilet and decent clubhouse for the BMX clubs,” he said.

“As to the maintenance of a public toilet for the users of the State Government recreation park, it’s yet to be worked out.”

“Whether it’s State Government, the clubs or council, it’s yet to be worked out.”

Construction on the Majors Road facility began last month with completion estimated for November.