The City of Cockburn's response to PerthNow Cockburn about toilet block vandalism
Question: Are public toilets being vandalised/damaged a widespread/ongoing problem in the Cockburn area?
Answer: Yes, in the last 12 months, there have been 220 reports of vandalism at our public facilities (standalone public amenities, community centres and sporting facilities).
Vandalism includes smashed fixtures and fittings, smashed toilet pans, smashed mirrors, stolen shower heads, and graffiti damage to walls and ceilings inside and outside of our facilities. The City also deals with a number of deliberate toilet blockages, including a recent incident where sand and mulch were dumped into the toilet pans at Bakers Square. This was a very expensive and disruptive repair. Nappies are also a common item jammed into toilets, particularly at North Coogee.
Question: How long does it take to fix the toilet/ can you tell me approximately how much it costs?
Answer: Simple graffiti removal could be $50 with around 10 removals per week on average. Deliberate toilet blockages can range from $350 to a half day with two plumbers onsite at $2,500+. The recent repair at Botany Park, where every single fixture and fitting in the bathroom was destroyed, cost $15,000 to rectify. The City spends hundreds of thousands of dollars per year rectifying vandalism and although some repairs are covered by insurance, this negatively affects the City’s future insurance premiums.
Question: What can be done to take on vandals and prevent this from happening again?
Answer: The City has undertaken the following measures to reduce vandalism:
- CCTV - the City has rolled out extensive CCTV and has an annual program to increase the provision of CCTV to our facilities
- Open/close times – adjustments to the operational hours of use to reduce after-hours access
- CoSafe patrols – targeted patrols to high volume vandalism locations and reporting of graffiti for immediate removal to reduce prevalence
- Fixtures and fittings – installation of vandal-proof fixtures, i.e. soap dispensers
- Lighting – improved lighting on and around facilities.