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Collapse Issue 497:<br />29 Jun 2020<br />_____________Issue 497:
29 Jun 2020
_____________
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Road works receive $1.4 million in government funding
Community events granted $42,000
Working bees weed and mulch Runway Park gardens
Phegans Bay rock climber rescued by helicopter
Funds committed to improve facilities for commuters
Certificate issued for rail tunnel phone tower
Investigation under way after human jawbone found
Council to look into installing soap in public toilets
Soap is the best hand cleaner, student experiment finds
Soap is the best hand cleaner, students show
Water and sewerage maintenance projects announced
Former Member for Gosford dies aged 90
Construction certificate for $2.3 million gymnasium
Application to build three townhouses
Construction certificate for Ettalong multi-dwellings
Council biodiversity strategy to be redrafted
Councillors decide to attend briefings remotely
Landscaping work in Woy Woy town centre
Dedicated team for Woy Woy
Libraries re-open on a limited basis
Progress association launches online fundraising effort
Cenotaph to be restored and featured on website
Planning Panel proves to be more costly, says Tesch
Rate notices to include hardship advice
New Rotary president at Woy Woy
No clear Covid roadmap for tourism, Tesch claims
Support line advertised in shopping centres
MP recognises a Woy Woy business in parliament
One quarter of average rainfall recorded for June
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Someone needed to stand up to buzzword-led invasion
Call to Council to publish a full response
Are public toilets cleaned regularly and well?
Commuter bus could not be booked by phone
Average bloke cannot afford extra tolls
Economic Strategy is same meaningless flummery
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Second edition of Stories from Patonga is planned
Award winner finds success as 'mature model'
Gallery re-opens in Ettalong
Television appearance for 79-year-old 'singing caddie'
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Archaeological dig to be conducted at school
Pick up and drop off rules enforced
Kindergarten information sessions to be held in July
Music bus returns after hiatus
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Bowling greens re-open for normal use this week
Peninsula loses 'all-time great sporting identity'
Woy Woy Lions resume training
Life Saving Club prepares for 100th birthday

Council to look into installing soap in public toilets

Central Coast Council has decided to look into installing soap in all of its public toilets.

A successful motion from Cr Louise Greenaway on June 22 called for a report detailing the number of Council-run public toilet and amenities blocks, the reasons for the removal of soap from them and the cost of reintroducing soap.

It also sought information about vandal-resistant soap dispensers, brackets or other means of protecting soap installations.

The motion follows several weeks of the community Soap in Public Toilets Campaign to see soap installed in public toilets.

Around 200 residents left bars of soap in amenities blocks all over the region as they called for Council action.

Operation Soap in Public Toilets Facebook campaigner Professor Stephanie Short applauded the decision.

Her public forum submission was read to councillors prior to their video meeting.

She said she was thrilled with the outcome.

"All the people who have been active in the group are really pleased with the unanimous support of councillors," Professor Short said.

"But the timing is very important.

"I understand Council needs to follow due process and ask for a report but the World Health Organisation is talking about the new normal, which includes continual health precautions, including washing our hands.

"We hate to think there might be a second wave of the pandemic but it would be terrible if Council didn't do everything it could to keep community safe.

"I understand concerns relating to vandalism, spillage and slippage but the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people would be to reinstall soap dispensers."

Professor Short told councillors she had first expressed concern when she discovered Council-run public toilets did not supply soap, despite the coronavirus pandemic and government advice to wash hands as a first line of defence against community spread.

Approaches to the media had attracted community support with other members of the community setting up Operation Soap in Public Toilets which became a popular social media campaign.

"We applaud the fact soap dispensers are provided in Senior Citizens Centres, libraries and the Peninsula Leisure Centre (where some soap dispensers are broken and not working), but urge Council to install soap dispensers in all public toilet facilities as a matter of public health urgency," she told councillors.

The motion attracted some debate before being unanimously passed by councillors.

Council director Ms Julie Vaughan told councillors vandalism and slip hazards had led to soap containers being removed from public toilets but not from community centres.

Soap was sometimes used as a projectile and there were issues around hygiene she said.

Not even state-of-the-art vandal-proof toilet paper containers were standing up to vandals.

Cr Greg Best said, while he was very aware of the need to wash hands, people should be responsible for taking their own soap to public facilities while Cr Troy Marquart called for costings to be included in the report.

Cr Kyle MacGregor said most people would expect soap in public toilets and Cr Greenaway said the problem existed prior to the coronavirus.





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