In the hot seat over toilet plan

By Alison Noonan
CASEY councillor Kevin Bradford has been accused of “jumping the toilet queue” by calling for new amenities at Cranbourne Place Park.
Cr Bradford moved at last week’s council meeting that funding for a new automated toilet block be allocated in its 2006/07 budget.
The park is renowned for its historic meteorite display and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Cr Bradford said that figure was expected to grow with the construction of three new shops at the front of the reserve and major beautification works planned for next year.
However, he said the park was let down by a lack of toilet facilities, with visitors forced to cross busy Camms Road to use the nearby McDonald’s restaurant.
“There is an electric barbecue and gazebo at the park and it is a real family attraction,” Cr Bradford said.
“Three shops have also been built which will now invite more people and families in.
“If council are doing all this work to encourage people to use the park they should provide toilet facilities,” he said.
Cr Bradford said McDonald’s staff were becoming increasingly frustrated by noncustomers continually using the restaurant’s toilets.
“McDonald’s don’t want people crossing the road to use their toilets.
“McDonald’s is there to look after their customers, not the City of Casey’s customers,” he said.
But Springfield Ward councillor Ben Clissold argued against Cr Bradford’s bid to introduce toilets to the popular park.
He claimed it was unfair to put one park ahead of the many others on the city’s hefty waiting list.
“Why pick one park out of the mix and put it ahead of all the others.
“That’s queue jumping.
“Toilets are not cheap. They are expensive things to build and you cannot just pick one out of obscurity. That is not the way to do things,” he said.
Cr Clissold called for a report to come back to council on parks throughout the municipality that require public toilets, including Cranbourne Place Park, and a timeframe for their construction.
A report will also be prepared detailing the costs involved in installing an automated toilet block at Cranbourne Park Place.