Croydon station toilet block could be demolished after being locked for years

A toilet block near Croydon railway station which has been closed for almost five years could finally be demolished.

The toilet block near Croydon station has been locked since 2014. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A toilet block near Croydon railway station which has been closed for almost five years could finally be demolished.

Metro Trains is set to meet with Maroondah Council to discuss the future of the block on Pierson Drive, which is on VicTrack land and was shut in 2014.

Maroondah Council maintained the toilets until March 2014 under an arrangement with Metro but ceased it due to ongoing vandalism.

NEW $15 MILLION CARPARK FOR CROYDON

WOMAN KILLED BY BUS IN CROYDON

The block was again tagged by graffiti vandals last month.

Croydon’s Nathan Hill, who operates The Croydon Project Facebook page, called for the block to be demolished before the Croydon Town Square opens next month.

Mr Hill said the block’s deterioration had made it an easy graffiti target and brought down the amenity of the area.

Graffiti vandals have repeatedly tagged the run-down toilet block. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It shows a lack a vision for the whole precinct if you do a Town Square that looks out to a derelict, stinky toilet block that has been tagged,” Mr Hill said.

“This sort of thing is unacceptable anywhere, not just Croydon.”

Maroondah Mayor Rob Steane said the council wrote to Metro requesting demolition in March 2014 but had not received any further correspondence about their plans for the site.

Maroondah Leader understands Metro staff will inspect and assess the block and then pass on recommendations, including potential demolition, to the council.

Metro Trains spokesman Andrew Nelson said the block was “unusable and inaccessible to the public” and Metro would work with the council to determine its long term future.

HELP CREATE A NEW VISION FOR CROYDON

by Nathan Hill

The standard you walk past in your community is the one you accept.

The toilet block in Croydon’s transport hub has been closed for four years — disused, covered in graffiti and fallen into disrepair.

It is unsightly, a local hang out for anti-social behaviour and creates a poor image in the centre of Croydon. It needs to be demolished.

The new Croydon Town Square is nearly complete and sits directly adjacent connected by a pedestrian crossing.

Once completed, the Croydon Town Square will be a key meeting place for the local community with upgraded facilities that supports the Croydon village community vibe.

Removal of the redundant toilet block will further open space and increase the desired visual amenity of the area.

Graffiti tags were found on the toilet block opposite Croydon railway station last month. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A safe and vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare should be the goal.

There has been four years of inaction and Maroondah Council should have been advocating key infrastructure stakeholders such as Victrack, Metro and VicRoads to consider the toilet block’s removal before Croydon Town Square officially opens.

It’s time to start thinking strategically for the long term now that Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar announced a new 500-space free carpark to be constructed in the same area of Croydon.

The effect will be more vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and people that will continue to make Croydon a destination in Maroondah.

Continuous upgrades to the surrounding road network and infrastructure will help create a new vision for Croydon and a standard the community can enjoy long into the future.

MORE NEWS:

SAFETY UPGRADES COMPLETE AT DEADLY CROSSING

DRUG-DRIVERS TARGETED BY HIGHWAY PATROL

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS SHINES THROUGH