Where’s the loo? Wheelchair users call for better access to ‘hidden’ toilet

Cr Johnston, Milo Frawley and Louise Rowe inspect Woombye’s public accessible toilet.

If a tourist or a Woombye local asked you where is the public accessible toilet (previously known as disabled toilets), could you direct them? Probably not. Maybe just as well, because in Woombye, access is both challenging and dangerous.

Located in the mural-covered public toilet block between the Woombye Bowls Club and the School of Arts Hall on Hill street, the accessible toilet section is at the rear. But most residents, and probably all tourists, are not aware. The external signs are poorly positioned and poorly designed by today’s standards and there is little promotion of the toilet anywhere in the main street.

The issue doesn’t stop with poor signage. As longtime local resident, Louise Rowe, can attest “It’s just plain difficult and dangerous trying to access this toilet.” Louise depends on her motorised wheelchair for most of her mobility needs. Sadly, she must plan her town trips around no toilet break. 

The toilet block backs on to the Bowls Club and is decorated with a pioneer mural.

WCBA President and Woombye local, Milo Frawley, had no idea the toilet was even here for the first nine years he was a resident. “It was probably state-of-the-art when it was built decades ago. But awareness has grown since then and we can now better serve the needs of the disabled, parents with prams, and those with assistive mobility devices.”

Councillor Winston Johnston was invited to come and inspect the accessible toilet and thanked the WCBA for bringing it to his attention. 

“Clearly this is not serving our local residents nor tourists well,” Cr Johnston said. “I will bring this to the attention of the respective council department with a sense of urgency.”

He said a practical solution would involve a modification of the existing facility and access rather than a complete rebuild.