Spending a penny (or two)

By Emma Sun
A PROJECT to have much-needed toilet facilities installed at Banjo Paterson Park in Lynbrook will be accepted in Casey Council’s 2011/12 major capital works program.
There are currently no toilets in the park, which has been a huge issue for residents who use visit the park’s facilities, including its playground and barbecue area.
Vice-president of the Lynbrook Residents Association Jasmeet Sehgal said the lack of toilets was a real inconvenience to users of the park.
“When you have families and you go with kids for a cycle ride or even a barbecue, when kids yell to go to the toilet, you don’t have that facility,” he said.
“The park has a barbecue and a lake, a beautiful ambience in there. The main issue is the toilet – as a human being you need that. The closest one is either the school or the shopping centre, so it’s a really big issue.”
Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon campaigned for the issue with Casey Council, arguing that users of the park, which quite often include children and the elderly, were unable to go long distances in search of a toilet.
“No other public toilet exists in the area – the closest is the shopping centre which is a good 1.5km away,” Cr Stapledon said.
“When campaigning for council I identified that no toilet existed at this park. This did strike me as a mystery given that the park is designed to attract people to stay, play and eat and enjoy the lovely amenity.”
A site for the future toilets has not yet been established, but Cr Stapledon said it could be close to the children’s centre to ensure access to water.
“This would be an appropriate setting, as it is close to the playground and barbecue area,” she said.
“Lynbrook residents have waited a long time for a toilet in their park and it is well deserved – I am grateful for the support to have this project included in the 2011/12 capital works.”