FLUSH WITH CASH

Council keen to roll out more pop-up toilets despite outcry

THE council is considering building more $400,000 pop-up toilets despite criticism led by the Federal Tourism Minister.

The first high-tech cubicles were opened on the nightclub strip in Surfers Paradise on Friday to complaints they were not properly screened off.

Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said they were “a very bad idea” that cheapen the image of the Surfers Paradise and “turn the streetscape into a toilet”.

He said the council should have spent the money on a traditional toilet block.

The facilities rise from the ground late at night and disappear by morning.

A council spokesman said more pop-up toilets were under consideration but it was too early to discuss sites.

THE Federal Tourism Minister says the controversial open-air urinals in Surfers Paradise are a “very bad idea”, but the city’s council wants to dump more on the Coast.

Steve Ciobo yesterday joined Surfers Paradise traders to condemn the new $400,000 pop-up loo and “modesty screens” which do little to shield passers-by from men peeing in the two urinal bays.

“These open-air toilets are a very bad idea,” Mr Ciobo said. “They cheapen the image of Surfers and frankly, turn the streetscape into a toilet.

“Council would do much better in building some enclosed, dedicated facilities.”

The installation in the midst of nightclub strip Orchid Avenue has one fully enclosed female cubicle and rises out of the ground for use from 11pm to 4am. On Saturday night, the first three male users all avoided the open urinals and used the female bay. Council has conceded it will consider more privacy screening but has revealed more of the pop-up dunnies are being looked at across the city.

“Other locations are also under consideration but it is too early to discuss sites,” a City of Gold Coast spokesperson confirmed yesterday.

In yesterday’s Bulletin, a City spokesperson said council “may consider minor screen changes if needed”.

Asked yesterday if more could be done to boost the urinal privacy, the spokesperson replied: “Public urination up alleyways and on shop fronts has done far more damage to our city reputation than a modern pop-up toilet facility.”

Surfers Paradise councillor Gary Baildon said he expected more screening of the male bays “very quickly”. “There is a modesty screen but quite obviously it needs to be adjusted and that’s what will occur. It has proved inadequate.”

Mr Baildon said the Netherlands-designed Urlift Combi toilets were common in London, Paris and parts of Australia.

“That’s what’s accepted around the world. But we are probably more modest here.”

Asked if he would use it in its current state, he said: “If I needed to go badly enough, of course. People don’t have to use it – it’s not compulsory.”

Heart of the City chairman Max Christmas initially said he was surprised to hear the male bays were “exposed”.

He said he first suggested the pop-up model three years ago after council aborted a trial of cheaper open-air urinals in Surfers Paradise which attracted widespread ridicule.

“If it’s not covered up, someone in council could have missed that. They can put some nice, soft cover around it, do it with jasmine and plants.

“Let’s not hammer the whole thing down, let’s look forward.”

Mr Christmas phoned back later to say police were consulted on the design and part of the openness was a “safety thing”.