Peppertree Park toilet campaign gets rolling

THE campaign for a public toilet in Peppertree Park, Bacchus Marsh, will become official at the run event early next month.

It will be at 7.45am on Saturday 7 February that runners will gather for the parkrun’s 250th instalment and will formalise their push for the facility by taking along toilet rolls and posing with them for photo opportunities.

Parkrun participant Sarah Guy is heading up the publicity campaign and said all Moorabool Shire Councillors had been invited to attend.

Ms Guy said letters outlining the need for a toilet had been sent to State Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and the Federal Member for Hawke, Sam Rae.

Letters have also been sent to all councillors and selected staff, as well as other local groups that may wish to be involved.

Ms Guy said the need for a toilet in the park had been a topic of discussion among parkrunners, and the group was hoping to have a facility included in the next council budget.

“The park is getting used more and more often – for the parkrun [and] also as a place that people stop in when travelling through the town,” she said.

“I think 100 per cent of parkrunners would say that we need one.

“About 12 months ago they landscaped the park a bit more…and you do see lots of people stopping there.

“It’s a really popular walking track now, even if you’re not a parkrunner.”

Ms Guy said the ultimate aim would be for a Changing Places facility, which would be accessible to everyone.

She said that is why government MPs had been included in the mail-out – particularly with the state election coming in November.

Moorabool mayor Cr Steve Venditti-Taylor, a regular parkrunner himself, expressed support for the campaign.

“If you look at the foot traffic seven days a week that actually uses the park, it would probably be in the top five used parks in the area,” he said.

“I think it’s an absolute no-brainer. You’ve probably got 1000 people a week going through that park, if not more.

“I think councillors will support the community, it’s just a matter of whether it can get done from the council side.

“It’s a really good project.”