Kyneton residents are outraged after the closure of public toilets on the corner of Piper and Ebden streets.
Macedon Ranges council announced the decision on September 16, citing it aligns with its Public Toilets and Barbecue Strategy, causing uproar on social media.
In a statement, the council said it acknowledges the disappointment caused by the recent move to close the toilets.
The public toilets, located at the currently closed business Duck Duck Goose and Larder, were under a long-standing lease agreement, with council not owning the facility.
Council said the lease agreement included a clause negotiated with the landowner when council sold the property in December 2026, which involved council managing and maintaining the toilets on the site.
With the lease fee cost to council proposed to significantly increase, council decided continuing the arrangement was no longer sustainable.
Instead council is prioritising the delivery of a $270,000 upgrade to the Hutton Street public toilets, located just 400 metres from the closed site. The expenditure is included in this year’s budget.
Council said there are also several other public toilet facilities in good condition all within a five minute walk of the closed site.
Residents voiced their frustrations at the September 24 council meeting. Eight public questions were asked about the closure.
One question was whether council had undertaken any engagement with the community and businesses before making the decision to close the public toilets, while another questioned why the public toilets were closed and if it aligns with council’s Public Toilet Barbecue Strategy or if this was purely cost driven.
Another resident questioned why council was overlooking the significance of having public amenities on Piper Street, and asked what steps were taken to decide to upgrade the facilities at Hutton Street instead of erecting a new toilet on Piper Street.
Council director of assets and operations Dom Testoni said council acknowledges Piper Street as a significant tourist destination.
“The decision to close the Piper Street toilets was not taken lightly, however the facility was privately owned and leased to council,” he said.
He said the focus remains on investing in council-owned assets.
