Visitors to Orbost have expressed outrage after encountering appalling conditions at the public toilets on Wolseley Street.
Tourists have reported graffiti-covered walls, hand sanitiser stations removed, overflowing sinks causing slippery floors, while faeces have also been sighted smeared all over the walls and the stench within the site also making it repulsive to enter on top of frequent instances where no toilet paper is available and local residents have been spotted rushing to the facility with toilet rolls to fill the gap.
These issues are a major concern for a town aiming to position itself as a tourist destination.
“Public toilets and facilities like these are what visitors remember and they are the first place that I come to after making my drive in from home,” one Bemm River resident said.
Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ODCCI), along with local residents, have been lobbying the East Gippsland Shire Council for years to improve the upkeep of these facilities.
They have particularly emphasised the need for more frequent cleaning, especially during peak tourist seasons.
However, their efforts have often been met with complacency, with the council citing budget constraints as a significant hurdle.
“We know that public toilets are very important community assets, and we take our responsibility to provide and maintain them seriously,” East Gippsland Shire Council chief executive officer, Fiona Weigall said.
“Unfortunately, not all members of the community respect public property.
“Our cleaning teams do a great job and take pride in their work; however they can’t control what happens after they’ve cleaned.
“The public toilet cleaning schedule is variable, with increased cleans during peak visitor periods.
“Graffiti removal is a separate task to the cleaning schedule. We are organising to remove or cover the graffiti.
“Our cleaners report any issues to us and we undertake any works that are needed.
“Community members are also welcome to report issues to us via the free Snap Send Solve app or our ‘Report an Issue’ form on our website.”
Residents are also calling for better signage to direct visitors to public facilities, noting that improving these basic services is crucial for the town’s transition into a thriving tourist hub with these public amenities a key element in shaping the experiences of visitors, and locals believe that addressing these issues is vital to Orbost’s growth as a tourist-friendly town.
