Council has completed a series of upgrades to public toilet facilities across Yarra Ranges, with new amenities now open Mount Evelyn and Sassafras, and refurbished facilities reopened in Lilydale and Olinda ahead of spring.
The new public toilets in Sassafras feature four toilets including an accessible cubicle, while the new facility at Morrison Reserve in Mount Evelyn are conveniently located near the playspace and include two cubicles, one of which is accessible.
In Olinda, public toilets have been refurbished to improve accessibility for visitors and residents.
The Lilydale Main Street public toilets have been refurbished and partially reopened after extensive vandalism last year. The toilets on the service road side are now open and include one accessible cubicle, two all-gender cubicles and one urinal cubicle, whilst half of the toilet block nearest the river will remain closed while further works are undertaken.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said that having modern, improved facilities is essential for community members and visitors alike.
"Public toilets are a key piece of infrastructure. They need to be clean, inviting and accessible for everyone who uses them," he said.
"I'm particularly pleased with the new toilets we've installed at Morrisons Reserve and in Sassafras, both popular areas with significant visitation on weekends by visitors and through the week by families and locals.
"In Lilydale, it was extremely disappointing to close the public toilets last year, after repeated and extensive vandalism. While people may not think much about public toilets until they need one, these facilities play an important role in our community.
"'We hope the community helps us take care of these assets, so they can remain safe, accessible and available for everyone."
