1 Busy time for families
Grand final awaits OBSERVER SPORT
P. 3 www.spec.com.au
Toy run fun
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024
$2.60 inc GST
MOTORCYCLE riders (from left) Linda Sanders, Chris Grey, Ross Sanders and David Upton show 10-month-old Kylan Hilton some of the presents donated for the 31st Portland Toy Run on Saturday. The event had 98 bikes travel from Heywood to Portland, encouraging the community to contribute Picture: NICOLE CLEARY 241207nc37 a toy gift, so all families can enjoy Christmas this year. More pictures: PAGE 2 and 10.
New look Henty St toilets GABRIEL GARCIA
IT is one of the most talked about buildings in Portland, and not for the right reasons, so official plans to replace Henty St toilet block with an open-air design have been welcomed by the community. Glenelg Shire Mayor Karen Stephens is thrilled about the replacement. “Council for some time has identified the Henty St amenities for replacement,” she said. “It’s an aging facility and it needs a refurb.” The toilet block has been the subject of numerous issues including complaints that the opening hours from 9am to 7pm in summer but closed by 7pm in the winter were not long enough. This has resulted in both members of the public and tourists raising concerns about availability. In July, Smith’s Showcase Jewellers owner Shaun Smith called for the toilet blocks to be open longer and said that people, desperate for options were forced to relieve themselves in
an alleyway behind his business. The Henty Street toilet block has also been the site of crime including a stabbing in 2019, robberies and vandalism. The toilet block plans, which are still at the community consultation stage, show a new open design which will include seating and a place to charge mobile phones and mobility scooters. Strip lighting will be installed to indicate whether a toilet stall is in use, and there will be infant changing facilities and showers. Each amenity will be designed to be non-gender specific and CCTV cameras will be operating at the facility. The toilet block will be made accessible to all and will include disabled car parking. Mayor Stephens said the better access was in line with changing community needs. “Twenty-five per cent of our residents in the Glenelg Shire have a disability so we need to accommodate the needs
of all of our community members,” she said. “It’s a really good time for us to refresh that amenities block and make sure that we’re meeting the needs of the community.” The plans for the new toilet block do not include a place for breastfeeding despite the issue of suitable breastfeeding places in Portland being raised in the Observer in September, by a community member. To beautify the toilet block there will be a feature wall. Glenelg Shire Council is requesting feedback on opening hours, and has a poll on the feature wall. You can have a say at https://yoursay. glenelg.vic.gov.au/cbd-amenities. As of yesterday morning, 26 people had voted and 42 per cent of responders have indicated they would like an art piece (painting/mural) 42 per cent voted for a photographic image and 15 per cent for a decorative material finish such as wood panelling. Continued PAGE 2
DRAWINGS of the proposed new Henty St toilet block comprise an open-air design.