Open-air urinals deemed success

Late night revellers can expect more open-air urinals this summer after the pissoirs were successfully trialled by City of Sydney Council.

About 5500 people used the pissoirs over the four week trial period, amounting to a staggering 1600 litres of urine being collected.

“The usage indicates that if you provide more facilities and services late at night, people will use them,” said the council’s late night economy manager, Suzie Matthews.

The urinals were trialled as part of a council initiative to combat the problem of public urination in Kings Cross.

Ms Matthews said: “Cleaning-up the mess left by late night revellers costs ratepayers more than $7 million a year.”

The urinals, which can be used by up to four males at a time, were set up on Friday and Saturday nights in problem areas: Oxford Square, Springfield Mall, Fitzroy Gardens and Roslyn Plaza.

Pub owners and patrons have welcomed the move, noticing a decrease in public urination since the trial began.

Licensee of The Oxford Hotel Roger Robertson said: “I haven’t smelt the smell [of urine] around our cellar doors and it usually stinks.”

But some local residents are sceptical.

“The results are distorted because we have had so much rain over this month,” said President of the Kings Cross and Potts Point Heritage Conservation Society, Andrew Woodhouse.

“It’s really a patch up job for their bad planning,” said Mr Woodhouse. “We have been asking for better public toilets for years.”

Co-convenor of the Darlinghurst Residents Action Group, Jo Holder, is also concerned about what the outdoor urinals mean.

“This is a signal to the suburb drinkers, who are converging onto the inner city areas, that it is acceptable to seek out public spaces as outdoor binge barns,” she said.

The council is in the process of evaluating the trial and has encouraged public feedback via its online survey on the City of Sydney website.

By Vivien Luu