City of Greater Geraldton CEO receives petition to replace Rubik’s cube toilets with changerooms and lockers

Receival of a petition with more than 100 signatures calling for the construction of changerooms and better amenities replacing the Rubik’s cube toilets on the Foreshore will be considered by council this week. A petition signed by more than 112 community members requesting council consideration to construct a change room facility in the Champion Bay, Geraldton vicinity was presented to the City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ross McKim on April 24. The petition, promoted by Jennie Haste, requested the council considered “building a male and female changing room, hot showers and better toilet facilities at the site of the current cube toilets”. The petition also requested the installation of free lockers for wallets, keys and kit bags. Reasons given for the request was that sea swimming was gaining popularity at the foreshore and improved amenities would encourage the community to swim and improve their health. The petition stated the facilities would allow swimmers to have peace of mind storing their belongings and provide a safe space to change as swimmers were “regularly verbally abused” by toilet users for utilising it as a change room. It said the current facilities, consisting of two colourful toilet cubicles built in 2013, were “grossly inadequate” to the amount of traffic frequenting the area. Mayor Shane Van Styn said the petition was compliant and if council voted to receive the petition it could then be considered in the budget deliberation. “We have lots of requests, we also have to keep in mind there’s also a request for a surf club down there as well. There’s a fair bit to go through and looking at what will be decided is a matter for council to deliberate,” he said. Mr Van Styn said currently, there were no plans to construct any new facilities in the area and the Rubik’s cube-styled toilets had worked well in the area. The council will vote to receive the petition on Tuesday.