Following strong community opposition from residents and parents at St Kilda Park Primary School (SKiPPS), Council voted to stop construction of Public Toilets on Fitzroy Street, less than 100m from the entrance to the school.
More than eighty residents filled the Town Hall chamber at Council’s Meeting on Wednesday 5 July and left Councillors in no doubt about where our community stands on this issue. Over 20 residents including Victorian Government representatives Nina Taylor MP, James Newbury MP, as well as SKiPPS Principal Neil Scott, parents and School Council members spoke in support of Cr Rhonda Clark’s motion to stop construction of the public toilets.
Elisa Webb, President of SKiPPS Council said “Our school community is pleased Council has listened and voted to stop the public toilets. It’s taken more than a year of considerable effort to stop the toilet from going ahead”.
Neil Scott, Principal at SKIPPS addressed the safety concerns “On the Council’s own Have Your Say website it says public toilets can attract antisocial behaviour. If the council are aware of this, then I cannot understand the decision to risk building a public toilet next to a place where hundreds of young children attend school each day. Taking this risk within meters of a busy government primary school is irresponsible”.
“I thank those councillors who have listened to the community and will vote tonight to keep our community safe,” said Mr Scott. “My question is to those councillors who continue to support the project – what if you are wrong and we have antisocial behaviours on the doorstep of the school – will you apologise and close these toilets after spending $500,000 or will you wash your hands of the decision and say it’s a decision for Victoria Police?”
Drug use in public toilets is widely reported, with Council’s own website reporting more than 500 syringes were picked up from Fitzroy St and Acland St precincts in the month of June. The presence of the planned toilet would not only invite those seeking safe haven in which to use substances, but also invite the risk of improperly disposed of drug paraphernalia presenting a real threat of transmitting serious disease to others. We don’t wish to malign people with substance use disorders. But we reject any plans that would increase the risk of children interfacing with users undergoing drug induced psychotic episodes, a phenomenon we see far too often nearby.
Council sought to rely on design principles to address the community’s safety concerns, but Wednesday's meeting heard from parent and SKiPPS Council Vice President Hannah Lawson “Recent studies indicate that CPTED has many disadvantages and failings. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) primarily focuses on manipulating the physical environment to deter criminals, however it may have limited impact on individuals who are determined to commit a crime or are not easily influenced by their surroundings. Factors such as socio-economic conditions, personal motivations and psychological factors can outweigh the influence of the physical environment.”
The school community and locals have been advocating for more than a year to discontinue plans for the Fitzroy Street toilet block in this most unsuitable of locations. Last year 1,319 residents signed a petition to urge the City of Port Phillip Council to reconsider their plan to build public toilets immediately outside St Kilda Park Primary School on Fitzroy Street. Details of the petition can be found at https://chng.it/n8jSpf9B
The school objected to the public toilets because of the Council’s track record of not being able to provide clean, safe, and well looked-after public toilet facilities. There were concerns that these toilets would present a safety risk to our students, families, and wider community members.
Elsewhere across the City of Port Phillip, public toilets have become dirty, unsafe spaces that attract drug users and other anti-social behaviours. We believe that the risks of this happening just metres from the school’s driveway are unacceptable. Kids coming and going to School need a recognised safety zone, an idea we readily accept with low-speed requirements on roads near every School. The particular risks we’ve identified at this site can’t easily be addressed. But moreover, the real need for a public toilet is where people are, which is in the commercial part of the street.
After receiving the petition with more than 1,300 objectors, Council remarkably voted on 15 June 2022 to construct a public toilet facility in the parkland facing Fitzroy Street, immediately in front of St Kilda Park Primary School.
Since the demolition of public toilets in Cleve Gardens in 1994, there has been no permanent facility on Fitzroy Street. For over 14 years Council has been trying to find a feasible location for public toilet construction in Fitzroy Street. In this time, over 18 different locations have been considered and rejected because of community concerns. It’s notable that Council engaged with local constituents for feedback on each of those earlier occasions. St Kilda Park Primary School was not consulted before Council made plans for this latest controversial site.
The school community is grateful for the support of Cr Clark and Cr Sirakoff who listened and worked with us since last year, and along with Cr Cunsolo backed every Council vote to reconsider the proposed site. Cr Nyaguy provided the necessary fresh eyes this year, and with Cr Crawford’s welcome support we achieved a sensible outcome. We also want to acknowledge local Members Nina Taylor MP, Josh Burns MP and James Newbury MP for their support.
SKiPPS is one of the oldest institutions in the area and has a vibrant and diverse community. We intend to be part of ongoing discussion about ensuring that Fitzroy St is a safe, vibrant place for all.
Cover Image courtesy of The Age 4 July 2023
