City of Sydney
- GPO Box 1591Sydney 2001
- 02 9265 9333
- [email protected]
New automatic public toilets
Project Status: Planned
Development applications for the new toilets are being lodged. We encourage you to provide your feedback during the consultation period.
Artist’s impression of the planned automated public toilet at Hyde Park to replace the existing public toilet.
Why we’re doing this
We worked with the community to develop our public toilet strategy, which identified the need for additional public toilets across the City of Sydney local area.
A lack of public toilets can greatly impact people with high needs such as families with children, older people, people with disability or people with medical conditions. Some may avoid, or be reluctant to travel or take part in social activities where public facilities are lacking. The city’s public toilets are well used by people walking and riding, workers, commuters and visitors to our parks and outdoor recreation facilities.
Public toilets in Central Sydney and at entertainment precincts are especially in demand during the evenings when most other alternative toilets, such as toilets in shopping centres, are closed.
To meet this need and demand, we aim to provide public toilets within 400m of any point within Central Sydney, village centres, and at major neighbourhood parks that have large playgrounds and outdoor recreation facilities.
Interior of the new automated public toilets showing wheelchair circulation space and transfer rails, wheelchair accessible sink with sensor operated taps and fold-up baby change table.
About the new toilets
The planned automated public toilets are inclusive (unisex wheelchair accessible) and some will have an additional ambulant-accessible cubicle in areas of high demand. To improve amenity and enhance the city with greenery, some facilities will have green roofs.
The toilets feature state of the art safety and hygiene features, including automated self-cleaning mechanisms, automated door opening and closing, and emergency security provisions. Maintenance staff will conduct extra cleaning and servicing of the facilities twice daily to ensure they’re in good condition and fit for use at all times.
To prevent loitering within the cubicle and deter antisocial issues, using the cubicle will be restricted to 10 to 15 minutes. After this time, an alarm will sound before the doors open automatically.
Signs and operating instructions will include audible messages, including tactile and Braille elements.
Interior of the new automated public toilets showing wheelchair circulation space and transfer rails, wheelchair accessible sink with sensor operated taps and fold-up baby change table.
Proposed locations
Locations were identified in the public toilet strategy or have been included in response to community requests, in areas of high demand.
These proposed facilities are located in popular neighbourhood parks, in streetscapes at dining and entertainment precincts. Many will provide important utility to visitors in Central Sydney and entertainment precincts at night when most other alternative toilets are closed.
Proposed locations and operating times:
- Camperdown, Victoria Park, City Road north, opposite Myrtle Street – sunrise until shortly after sunset
- City centre, Bathurst Street (south side), west of Pitt Street – 24/7
- Circular Quay, Alfred Street and George Street – 24/7
- Darlinghurst, Cook + Phillip Park, at William Street and Boomerang Street – 24/7
- Erskineville, park at Erskineville Road and Charles Street – sunrise until midnight
- Paddington, Oxford Street at William Street, near Mitre 10 – sunrise until midnight
- Railway Square, George Street at Quay Street (existing kiosk location) – 24/7
- Rosebery, Liquorice Allsorts Park, Crewe Place, opposite Primrose Ave – sunrise until shortly after sunset
- Walsh Bay, 14 Hickson Road – 24/7
- Surry Hills, Ward Park, Marlborough Street and Devonshire Street (replacing existing facility) – sunrise until midnight
- Waterloo, on periphery of Crystal Park, Crystal Street – sunrise until shortly after sunset
- Woolloomooloo, Cowper Wharf Road, near Brougham Street – 24/7
- Woolloomooloo, Sydney Place Woolloomooloo Playground, Dowling Street – sunrise until shortly after sunset.
