The City of Port Phillip vs parents and residents: the public toilet plans at the middle of the disagreement

Angry parents of an inner-city school have been joined by neighbours and traders kicking up a stink over the proposed location of public toilets.

St Kilda Park Primary School Council vice president Hannah Lawson and principal Neil Scott don’t want public toilets so close to the school. Picture: Gemma Scerri

Disgusted parents have turned their nose up at an inner-city council’s decision to put a public toilet within 20m of a primary school.

Parents and teachers from St Kilda Park Primary School joined with locals and traders on Fitzroy St on Tuesday morning to protest the City of Port Phillip’s loo move.

School principal Neil Scott and the school council’s vice president Hannah Lawson said putting a public toilet so close to a school was too much of a risk.

“It really is putting our children’s safety at risk,” Ms Lawson said.

“Already further up the street, they sometimes get approached by people who are drug and alcohol affected early in the morning, and that is quite scary for them.”

Mr Scott said the council didn’t even give consult with the school before the decision was made, with the foul move only noticed after a sign was put up on site.

“We were surprised and disoriented to get that news. Speaking with the traders across the street as well, none of them knew this was happening and neither did residents,” Mr Scott said.

Father Simon said the toilets would attract illegal and anti-social activity closer to the school.

“There’s already a huge issue with public housing, homeless and drug use in the general area,” he said.

“Our main concern is our kids being confronted with things like dirty syringes, or even drug affected people. There are better places to locate a toilet like this.”

Christina Manonian, who’s grade five daughter Zoe attends the primary school, said was now concerned about Zoe walking to and from school by herself because the existing drug use on surrounding St Kilda streets would be moved closer to the school.

“Further down the road, it’s also a dangerous street, so our main concern is that they’re (Council) moving some of that activity that’s not really welcome near the school, right to the school’s doorstep,” she said.

“This is a safe haven for the kids. It’s a really important part of the community. What purpose does it really serve to build them (the toilets) here?”

Other parents said the toilet was just a Band-Aid solution to a larger problem in the area.

“It’s not just our children that walk passed here,” Ms Lawson said.

“There are a number of schools around here and students walk passed all the time, especially if they’ve caught the bus. Also, our before/after school programs often see parents arriving with their kids in the dark and the park is not well lit — it’s not just exposing our kids to potentially dangerous items after the fact, but directly impacting the ability of them to be safe in the school environment.”

The council had claimed the toilets would reduce public urination at night, but local traders said the toilets would be closed at night, contradicting the council.

Andrews government minister and Albert Park MP Martin Foley said he was hopeful of a positive outcome for the school.

“I’m confident that the City of Port Phillip will reconsider its position on this matter,” he said.

Asked if he was “strong arming” the council, Mr Foley said: “No, I engage in constructive conversations with my friends in local government on a regular basis.”

“I’m sure the position of the school and the business community in that part of my rich and vibrant electorate will be listened to by the council,” he added.

Port Phillip Council mayor Marcus Pearl said the new toilets would not bring anti-social behaviour to the area because they would be well-lit and in public view after debating the proposed site for the last 14 years.

Seven other sites, including a nearby nature strip, were also short-listed before studies found the land next to the primary school was the best location for the toilets.

“While there is strong agreement that Fitzroy Street needs public toilets, the dilemma for our Council is that everyone can’t agree where they should go,” Mr Pearl said.

Mr Pearl said works on the toilets, designed to curb daytime public urination and give residents access to a free bathroom close by, will not begin until a petition from the school community is heard next month.

Parks Victoria has been contacted for comment.