Cullen Bay the new home of $500,000 toilet block courtesy of Darwin council
A DARWIN business owner has labelled a $500,000 five-bathroom toilet block in Cullen Bay yesterday a waste of ratepayers’ money
Northern Territory
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A DARWIN business owner has labelled a $500,000 five-bathroom toilet block in Cullen Bay yesterday a waste of ratepayers’ money.
CBD and Parap clothing retailer Kerry Warr said the flash new loos, part of the NT Government’s Cullen Bay Marina upgrade project, was funded by the City of Darwin with money that could have been much better spent.
“It’s totally another typical waste of money,” she said.
“$500k, that’s a lot of money for a lot of toilets.
“Who’s on the toke there?
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“For that price, you’d hope they have a bidet and a breathalyser.”
But Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the $500,000 project – which also included greening the area with a new garden bed and accessible infrastructure from the carpark and public bathrooms to the Cullen Bay lawns – was essential for the “hundreds, possibly thousands” of tourists.
“We had to put something in place for the comfort of the tourists,” Mr Vatskalis said.
Cullen Bay Marina Management Corporation chief executive Carmen King said the toilets were well worth the investment.
“It’s a huge addition to the Cullen Bay area, particularly this grassed area out the front,” she said.
“We anticipate there will be a vast amount of additional events and activation in the area, whether it be from sporting groups or the general public enjoying a picnic on a weeknight or a weekend.
“It’s a major addition to the area.
“Anyone in this area, the only other option is to go to a restaurant in the area, but there is a public toilet at the ferry terminal.”
Ms Warr owns a store in the Mall and a store in Parap Village, and said bathrooms at both locations, which were on council land, were in need of their own upgrades.
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“The toilets in the city are tucked away in West Lane where people have to ask us where they are, and we quite often let them use our toilets because of the itinerants that use the toilets,” she said.
“Same with the toilets here in Parap. Sometimes if you were to go in there, they are disgraceful.”
The new Cullen Bay bathrooms will be open from 5.30am to 11pm daily.
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