Charles Exton

Leading Kinglake citizen Charles Exton looks like seeing success regardingt the petition he led for public toilets to be re-established at the Memorial Reserve.

Mr Exton presented the petition, with the signatures of 581people, to Murrindindi Council last month.

Tonight’s Council meeting at Yea is likely to see a proposal that the Shire spend $10,000 in the current financial year for the schematic design and cost estimates of the toilets.

The Council would then look to discuss construction as part of the 2020-21 budget process.

The petition reminded rge Council that there were existing public toilets at the Reserve prior to the 2009 bushfires.

“The community believed that the facility would be reinstated through the application of State Government bushfire remediation funds,” a note to Councillors says.

“The Kinglake Memorial Reserve is the only reserve in Murrindindi Shire without public toilets

“Without public toilets, football finals cannot be held at the ground

“The age demographic in Kinglake shows that 40 per cent of the population is aged between 5 – 19 years and this demographic supports the requirement of infrastructure that encourages use of our open space and recreational opportunities.”

A report to Councillors says:
“There are four public toilet facilities in the proximity of the grounds, all currently maintained by Council.

“There is an unknown ‘unstructured recreation’ (not sporting club based) need for public toilets at this location, however, the lack of facilities is noticed by spectators of sporting events

“There are toilets for public use located at the grounds:

n In the tennis pavilion – however, they are awkward to access due to their location within the pavilion
n In the football/tennis pavilion – however, these are not designed for the needs of a match day crowd
“A 2017 audit showed there were five groups using the grounds:
• Kinglake Football Netball Club with 95 members in active participation
• Kinglake Junior Football Club with 45 members in active participation
• Kinglake Cricket Club with 40 members in active participation
• Kinglake Tennis Club with 60 members in active participation
• Kinglake Scouts with 14 members in active participation

“Note these figures do not include spectators or those using the reserve for unstructured recreation.”

An ‘audit’ showed that public toilets were situated at ‘like’ facilities including:
• Yea Showgrounds and Recreation Reserve,
• Alexandra Showgrounds and Recreation Reserve,
• Thornton Recreation Reserve,
• Leckie Park, Alexandra,
• Eildon Recreation Reserve,
• Gallipoli Park, Marysville,
• Yarck Recreation Reserve,
• Gobur Recreation Reserve,
• Molesworth Recreation Reserve.

“Discussions with user groups during 2019 would suggest that a public toilet is a high priority of the community,” says the report to Councillors.

Kinglake Ward Councillor Leigh Dunscombe (Mayor, Murrindindi Shire Council) was subject to a social media campaign about the Kinglake Memorial Reserve toilets.