A petition was lodged with the Eurobodalla Shire Council on Tuesday to build a disabled/parenting bathroom at John Street Reserve, Mogo, prior to the building of a recreational area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mogo Lolly Shop owner Theresa Matthews said the "look of despair" when she told community members how far the nearest toilets were prompted her to collect signatures from everyone who asked.
She asked the council to make the bathroom a priority before installing other facilities.
She said she had watched mothers change babies on her shop's front lawn, had heard of someone defecating underneath a Mogo cafe and witnessed someone urinating on her shop's back fence.
"Disabled tourists have to navigate the Princes Highway and Tomakin Road during tourism seasons to gain access to the bathroom in Tomakin Road," she said in the petition.
The cubicles are not wide enough for a wheelchair and a carer to fit in with them. The ground is uneven and presents a fall issue."
She said she had handed the petition to Bega MP Andrew Constance, the NSW Premier and other federal ministers.
"I've exhausted every avenue I can think of," she said at the November 12 council meeting.
"I don't know what else to do."
Councillors voted to accept the petition.
Community services and recreation director Kathy Arthur said the assessment of the 49 sets of public toilets in the Eurobodalla Shire was up for review.
She said council was working to upgrade toilets that weren't compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
She said as part of the assessment, they would look at the layout and design of facilities as well as environmental, safety and maintenance issues.
READ MORE