By Michael Newhouse
IT’S often said politics is a dirty business. In fact Brimbank councillors probably know as well as anyone how dirty local municipal politics can get.
But at last week’s council meeting, councillors from across the political spectrum were happy to get down and dirty together, turning their attention to the emotive issues of toilets. And didn’t it get a reaction.
Councillors last week signed off on the $260,000 contract for the design, construction and installation of an automated unisex public toilet in St Albans Square. The funding was ticked off in the 2006/2007 capital works budget.
Almost every councillor took the chance to speak on the heated issue of public toilet facilities in Brimbank, with most congratulating the council on its efforts in finally securing these new toilets, which will sit near the intersection of Main Rd East and St Albans Rd.
Last Tuesday, Cr Anthony Abate told the chamber access to public toilets was a basic “social justice” issue, while other councillors pledged to keep fighting for improved facilities around the whole municipality.
“It should be a given that people have access to public toilets,” he said.
And finally Cr Natalie Suleyman voiced what everyone was thinking: council had gone potty.
“I don’t know whether councillors are fans of the film Kenny,” Cr Suleyman joked, making reference to the popular Australian mockumentary based on the life of a loveable portable toilet worker.
She even jokingly offered to give councillors a copy of the film for reference.
The council is at present considering a budget proposal to allocate funding for public toilets facilities in Deer Park, after concerns were raised that residents were bypassing the Deer Park shops because of a “perceived lack of public toilets facilities”.
The toilets may be installed at the Burnside St and the Western Highway intersection, according to the council, and would be similar to those agreed to for St Albans.
