The Culburra Beach community was proud to open its brand new skate park in May.
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But the shine soon wore off when skate park users realised there were no public toilet facilities nearby.
To add fuel to frustrations, two fully functional men’s and women’s toilets at Orient Point (walking distance from the skate park) were knocked down, and plans to replace them with a single, unisex toilet closer to the skate park have been delayed.
At Shoalhaven Council’s strategy and assets committee meeting on Tuesday night, Culburra Beach Progress Association president Alan Pendleton aired concerns toilet troubles may not be alleviated until after summer – peak tourist season.
Cr Greg Watson sympathised with the community group, which has been fielding angry, negative and frustrated comments about the lack of toilet facilities.
“This issue really put a dampener on what was a largely successful community project, it’s bringing all that goodwill undone,” he said.
Council’s Assets and Works director Paul Keech confirmed council has been trying to work out the best possible way to connect a new toilet to the local sewerage system.
He said it was very challenging to connect the toilet to the town sewerage system, due to underground water pipes nearby, but his department has been working on a solution.
Mr Keech, who took on the project which was well under way when he started work at council in October 2017, confirmed council has now identified the best way to pump sewerage from the toilet.
Council’s top priority, in terms of toilet facilities, is Bendalong, but Mr Keech said it would not be impossible to make a start on Culburra facilities before summer hits.
