WATCH THIS SPACE: Cr Fiona Rossiter at the Ophir carpark, which she believes would be an ideal site for a new public toilet. Photo: BETHANY HALL
THE public toilet design favoured by Orange City Council has a Dr Who Tardis quality to it.
Like the good doctor's favoured mode of transport, it is unclear exactly where the city's next fully automated convenience will touch down.
And the list of possible sites is growing with Cr Fiona Rossiter suggesting the Ophir and Aldi carparks.
Council has in stock an $80,000 uni sex, self-cleaning toilet, similar to the models installed at the Adventure Playground and in the Woolworths carpark.
But the city's 14 councillors cannot agree on exactly where the new toilet should be located.
A dearth of public toilets in the CBD became an issue in 2000.
What followed was a controversial debate about the possibility of Banjo Paterson theme toilet in Robertson Park.
That idea led to widespread media coverage but not a toilet.
At about that time council voted to install the Woolworths toilet.
Council has since constructed a public toilet in the Leaheys Arcade on the northern side of the top block.
In 2002, charities in McNamara Street approached council asking that a public toilet be installed to service the patrons of St Vincent De Paul and the Salvation Army.
Council agreed to investigate the request.
A toilet was purchased and plans were drawn up to install it at the southeastern corner of Summer and McNamara streets.
But that plan was rejected prior to the March council election.
Other sites discussed, both formally and informally, include the car park at the rear of the charities, a spot on the footpath half way down McNamara Street between Summer Street and Kite Street, Memory Park, Robertson Park and Colvin Park (near Pizza Hut).
The Aldi carpark and the Ophir carpark can now be added to the list.
Cr Rossiter believes either of those carparks would be a significant improvement on McNamara Street.
She initially supported a Robertson Park facility but conceded the modern toilet did not suit the heritage ambience of the park.
The $80,000 toilet is in storage at the council works depot.
