[Forum] I am pleased to report that Central Coast Council has started to respond to widespread concerns about the lack of soap in our public toilet facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the past week, members of Operation Soap in Public Toilets Central Coast has provided cakes of soap in our public toilet facilities to spur Council into further action.
This direct action has installed soap in public toilet facilities including at The Box at Ettalong, Wagstaffe Wharf, Killcare Wharf, Kiddies corner at Umina Beach and Lion’s Park at Woy Woy.
While Central Coast Council libraries, Senior Citizens Centres and pools and the Peninsula Leisure Centre are currently closed, these venues already have soap dispensers installed.
Council has advised it “… is in the process of having hand sanitiser dispensers installed for when these venues can re-open”.
So, this is some progress.
When it comes to having soap or hand sanitiser dispensers installed in publDeserving public acknowledgement
ic toilet facilities, Crs Louise Greenaway, Jillian Hogan, Chris Holstein, Kyle McGregor, Bruce McLachlan, Richard Mehrtens and Jilly Pilon have responded to me, and raised concerns with council officers and with the chief executive Mr Gary Murphy.
Council has advised: “We will be developing a Public Toilet Strategy which will allow us to look at ways to include soap in a safe manner in any of the new builds or renovations that occur.”
Cr Kyle McGregor advised that at this stage they were looking at servicing the major toilets and the higher use sites, but do not have the same plans for lower-use toilets.
Council has a preference for liquid or hands-free dispensers, taps and so on, but are constrained by cost and vandalism issues.
The most promising update comes from Cr Jillian Hogan, who advised that council officers are “…currently costing soap dispensers”.
So, I urge fellow residents to keep an eye out for the installation of soap or hand sanitiser dispensers in our public toilet facilities to help us keep the Central Coast CovidSafe
Email, 13 May 2020
Dr Stephanie Short, Woy Woy