COUNCILLORS have abandoned plans to build the Robertson Park toilets next to the CWA Hall, returning to an earlier concept for the opposite side of the park.
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At Tuesday night’s Orange City Council meeting, councillor Glenn Taylor moved to build a standalone brick toilet facility with separate male, female and disabled cubicles next to the existing sewer mains on the McNamara Street side, setting a loose budget of $200,000.
Councillors last considered a custom building at the location, midway between Byng and Summer streets, in 2014 but met opposition from nearby businesses and pursued the CWA location instead.
However, the project was delayed as costs blew out and councillors questioned the unisex design.
Cr Taylor said the toilets would play an economic role in encouraging travellers to stop, buy some lunch and go shopping, in addition to being a community facility.
“Enough is enough, we can debate until the cows come home what type of toilet it is, what’s incorporated in it and whatever, but what I’ve moved is pretty succinct,” he said.
“I’ve lost count of the number of Anzac Days that we haven’t had that facility in place, obviously is can’t happen for 2018 but let’s have it there for 2019.”
The toilet still has a way to go before it can be constructed, including concept planning, a development application and tender process.
The former design is currently with the state government for consideration for the Stronger Country Communities Fund – staff commented the $220,000 requested would be enough to complete the project but might need to seek approval to change the plans if the project was successful.