Town’s tourist loos overflow
Toilet funding delay turns desperate
RAW sewage is spewing from toilets along the Great Ocean Road as one town’s infrastructure struggles to cope with an influx of tourists.
Kennett River’s only public toilets have been two blocks of portable toilets next to the General Store since December.
Residents estimate about 1000 tourists stop at Kennett River every day during the peak season, far outnumbering the 50 residents.
The wave of tourists had contributed to the town’s public toilets’ holding tank overflowing at least 10 times since they were installed, Kennett River Association president Corrina Dichiera said.
The town was allocated $1.9 million of funding as part of the City Deal for a new public amenity block, water treatment facility and traffic management infrastructure.
But residents say they have been left in the dark on when they will get their desperately needed permanent toilet block, with the caravan park no longer offering a public toilet. THE cast of the upcoming production of Kinky Boots proved their dedication to their craft this week.
To prepare for their roles as drag queens in the show, performers were subjected to a waxing session to have their skin silky smooth.
But the pain was worth it, with the event raising important funds for youth mental health support service headspace.
“It’s semi-regular that the holding tank overflows and there’s raw effluent in the carpark,” Ms Dichiera said.
“People walk through that and walk into the shop and walk into town. It’s not a good look and it’s a health concern.”
Ms Dichiera said the situation had been “dire” for a year.
Colac Otway Shire Council confirmed it received a report of an overflow from the temporary toilets on Sunday afternoon, which was attributed to an influx of visitors, including a 60-seater bus.
“Council has an arrangement with a local business, which inspects and cleans the toilet facilities three times a day, including monitoring the level of the toilet tanks,” chief executive Peter Brown said.
“The business operator became aware of the overflow, the toilet facilities were closed and a contractor was employed to pump out the facility.
“The temporary public toilet facilities were reopened Monday morning.”
Mr Brown said the council would seek to install an alarm to provide an alert when the
Kinky Boots sees a man who has inherited a failing shoe factory unite with a drag queen to turn the factory around.
GSODA Inc will present Kinky Boots at the Geelong Arts Centre’s Playhouse Theatre from October 4-12.
Visit geelongartscentre.org.au for tickets. Or go to mycause.com.au/page/213338/ drag-queen-waxing to donate to headspace. system was almost full.
He did not say when the permanent facilities would be built, but acknowledged the temporary facilities were not adequate to cope with the number of visitors to Kennett River.
Environment Protection Authority acting southwest regional manager Stuart Panozzo said the EPA had received pollution reports for an effluent spill at Kennett River.
“EPA officers spoke with Colac Otway Shire about the need to maintain these facilities and ensure they are regularly pumped out to prevent waste from polluting the surrounding area,” Mr Panozzo said. “If the spills continue, EPA will not hesitate to take action.”
Corangamite MP Libby Coker said the $1.9 million in funding through the Geelong City Deal had to be delivered as a priority once the City Deal was signed.
It is understood the State Government will give Colac Otway Shire the money to deliver the project, and that early planning work will start soon.