PREMIUM
News

Benalla families suffer as vandals attack playground toilets three times since March

The toilet block next to Benalla’s rocket park as been vandalised three times in 2024. Photo by Simon Ruppert

The public toilets next to Benalla’s rocket park playground are the most modern in the Rose City but sadly they are also the most vandalised.

Benalla Mayor Danny Claridge said parents with young children were the main victims, and said he hoped someone in the community could shed light on who was committing these acts.

“Originally, the toilet block was damaged in March,” Cr Claridge said.

“We ordered new locks, equipment and hinges and repaired it.

“Then, I'm not sure exactly the time, but within a few weeks the same damage was done again.

“There were four doors, all kicked in again. So we repaired them again.

“We’ve done that three times now.”

Apart from local families enjoying the park and gardens, the toilets are used by tourists visiting Benalla.

And it’s rate payers footing the bill every time this happens.

Cr Claridge said it was important to get the toilets open as soon as possible, and to keep them open for locals and visitors alike.

“If you’ve got young children, you know that when they say they need to go to the toilet, there’s not much time,” he said.

“Unfortunately, now they have to walk to the other toilet block in the middle of the garden, which is not too far away, but it’s very annoying.

“We’ve got fairly new, modern, great toilets there, and they continually get vandalised and can’t be used.”

Cr Claridge said his message was that this needed to stop.

“If anyone knows who is doing this, we urge them to call the police.”