Public cleaning services to increase during summer holidays

Published on 19 December 2024

Surf Coast Shire Council and Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks will increase service levels for public facilities during the summer holiday period to help maintain a clean environment for locals and visitors.

With more than 1 million people expected to visit the Surf Coast over summer, Council-managed public toilets across the shire will be cleaned more often from Boxing Day until 27 January.

High use Council-managed public litter bins will be emptied twice a day throughout the summer school holidays and the first two weeks of the new school year.

The following Council-managed public toilet facilities will have the highest cleaning frequency:

• Gilbert Street, Torquay (will be cleaned seven times a day during the peak period, up from three times daily during regular operation);
• Anglesea Shopping Centre (six times a day, up from three);
• Barwon Terrace, Winchelsea (six times a day, up from three); and
• Lorne Visitor Information Centre (five times a day, up from two).

These Council-managed public toilets will also be cleaned at least twice as often:

• Aireys Inlet skatepark;
• Coogooorah Park, Ellimatta Reserve and Anglesea Bike Park (Anglesea);
• Bellbrae Recreation Reserve;
• Moriac Lions Park;
• Torquay Skate Park (Djila Tjarri), Spring Valley Drive, Spring Creek Reserve and Whites Beach Playground (Torquay);
• Bob Pettitt Reserve (Jan Juc); and
• Palmer Street, Winchelsea.

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks will regularly service more than 40 public toilet blocks and 268 bins on coastal reserves from Point Impossible through to the outskirts of Warrnambool.

Over summer there will be an increase in patrols, litter bin collections, and the cleaning of public toilets in high-use locations, including:

• Torquay Boat Ramp (Salty Dog), Cosy Corner and Surf Beach Drive (Torquay);
• Bells Beach;
• Anglesea Visitor Information Centre and Four Kings Anglesea;
• Grove Road, Lorne Visitor Centre, North Lorne and Point Grey (Lorne); and
• Apollo Bay Visitor Information Centre, Apollo Bay Harbour Carpark Boat Ramp, and Apollo Bay foreshore.

Please note: Council’s services are likely to be impacted on days declared by the Country Fire Authority as having an Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger rating, in line with its policy not to send employees or contractors into high-risk areas on these days in the interests of safety.

Surf Coast Shire General Manager Community Life said:
“With so many people enjoying the outdoors on the Surf Coast during summer, we’re allocating extra resources to keep our Council-managed public areas clean and tidy.

“Visitors and locals can do their bit to help by disposing of waste in the correct bins and, better still, taking their rubbish home with them.”

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Acting Director Environment and Coastal Operations Leia Howes said:
“We have crews out cleaning and clearing to keep public areas tidy over summer.

“We’re targeting hotspots and boosting our presence along the coast to target the most popular locations over summer.

“We know that traders, residents, and visitors want to feel proud of our coast and we’re working proactively to respond to any issues.”