Is council taking the piss on Oxford Street?

The City of Sydney’s plans to put an open air portable urinal on Oxford St have generated opposition by local businesses in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills.
As part of the move to combat public urination, the City has selected the proposed site on Oxford St, adjacent to Oxford Square, because it is very visible for late night offenders.
City of Sydney Late Night Economy Manager, Suzie Mathews said Oxford Street residents are sick of having their front doors ‘peed on’.
“Public urination is offensive and disgusting to residents whose doorsteps, driveways and property walls bear the brunt”, she said.
However, Sue Ritchie, owner of the Beauchamp Hotel on Oxford St, said the urinals should be discretely placed and away from pedestrian traffic.
“Toilet facilities should be available but to have them readily viewable to people walking on the footpath is not appropriate,” she said.
“There should be sites where they can be more discretely placed so people don’t have it in their face. The message the council is sending is that Oxford St is worth pissing on.”
President of the Darlinghurst Residents Action Group Jo Holder said the urinals are in themselves the problem as they legitimise perceptions that public spaces are “open toilets”.
“Existing public toilets that have been closed should be reopened as a first priority, principally for day businesses,” she said.
“The real issues that [the urinals] don’t address are bad behaviour and the social impact of extended hours trading.”
Ms Mathews said the City has received no formal complaints on the location of the urinals on Oxford St.
“Of course the preferred solution would be more permanent toilets,” she said.
“This is an interim move to deal with a hugely ingrained social issue.”
Residents and business owners affected by the Oxford St location are threatening to hold a community protest if the site gets the all clear.
The protest will take form as an “old fashioned pissing contest complete with pictures of some well known local politicians serving as bullseyes.”

By Kristie Beattie