Central Coast public toilets: Council looks into anti-vandal soap dispensers

If you are in a public toilet and there’s a scrawny bar of soap with a few black hairs in it, do you use it to wash your hands? The issue came up as council considered bringing soap back to public toilets.

Dr Stephanie Scott, of Woy Woy, has started a soap in public toilets campaign across the Central Coast.

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Finding a hygienic way to put soap in public toilets without it being vandalised, stolen or someone tripping on slippery floors is a hard ask.

However, Central Coast Council is going to investigate with a view to hopefully place soap in council toilets across the region.

The issue arose at this week’s meeting with Cr Louise Greenaway keen to see soap reinstated in toilets. She said effective handwashing should be a priority regardless of COVID-19.

The call follows a recent public campaign called “Operation Soap in Public Toilets Central Coast” launched by Dr Stephanie Short of Woy Woy.

Dr Stephanie Scott, of Woy Woy started the campaign. Picture: Facebook

Dispensers like these are often vandalised or leak on the floor.

Dr Short addressed council, saying the campaign started after she noticed a lack of soap in public toilets during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite there being soap in other council facilities.

“It is public health 101 to have soap dispensers installed in public toilet facilities on the Central Coast,” she said.

“We urge council to install soap dispensers in all public toilet facilities as a matter of public health urgency and as a basic public health protection for council employees, members of the community, tradesman, workers, travellers, holiday makers and so on.”

Council does not provide soap in its public toilets.

At the height of the pandemic, council’s “anti-vandalism” toilet roll holders were broken into with toilet paper stolen.

Cr Chris Holstein said the biggest issue was making the soap dispensers as vandal proof as possible, along with potential legal issues if someone slips on spilt soap.

Cr Greg Best said when you drill down, putting soap in public toilets was not as simple as it sounded.

“A dried up piece of soap with a few hairs in it, I’m not going to pick it up,” he said.

“If kids unload dispensers, our granny falls over and breaks a hip.”

He said people should take responsibility for themselves when it comes to basic hygiene.

Council will look into the reinstallation of soap in public toilets, including investigating vandal-resistant soap dispensers.