Pay as you go plan for toilets

Need for roadside facilities

FACILITIES along the Great Ocean Road have been slammed as “disgracefully substandard” by a Liberal minister, who has pitched a “pay-topoop” system to cover costs.

Polwarth state Liberal MP Richard Riordan took a swipe at the state of toilets and facilities at bus stops along the 240km tourist route.

“Local residents and tourists in Apollo Bay and other towns are often shocked to find the toilets and other basic amenities in a disgraceful condition with cleaners unable to keep up with the numbers of users,” Mr Riordan said.

“Locals report lines of up to 20 people waiting to use the facilities on the foreshore at Apollo Bay and small businesses are being impacted by desperate tourists using their facilities without an intention to purchase anything.

“The lack of funding for these small towns along the Great Ocean Road is restricting the provision of what should be world class facilities at designated bus parking sites.”

Mr Riordan suggested a user-pay system to fund the improvement of facilities and stamp out the horror of overflowing toilets and rubbish bins.

“It is time to begin the implementation of a reasonable and fair user pay system where tourist bus and car hire companies add a levy to each passenger that would be used to fund these vital improvements,” he said.

“The current situation is a health and safety issue and deters from what should be a memorable experience for the visitor and a benefit for the towns along our beautiful coast and hinterland.”

Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson also raised the issue this year, labelling tourists use of bushes as “frankly disgusting”.

Ms Henderson held a “summit” in February for residents to have their say on “investment priorities” for the route.

“One of the biggest issues raised at these summits was the lack of proper toilet facilities along the Great Ocean Road,” Ms Henderson said yesterday.

“The issue is not just the cost of building these facilities but maintenance, which can be in excess of $200,000 a year.

“From a Commonwealth perspective, I believe we need a tourism infrastructure fund to support the construction of toilet facilities and other basic infrastructure such as picnic tables and walking tracks.”

Western Victoria MP Gayle Tierney said $25 million would be allocated for Great Ocean Road works in February, matching a $25 million federal contribution pledged in 2016.