Closure of public amenities at the Wildfish Restaurant, Port Albert

Wellington Shire Councillors have considered a petition from Port Albert residents in relation to the closure last June of the public amenities at the Wildfish Restaurant, Stockyard Point in Port Albert. The petition raised concerns about the distance to the nearest toilet now that the Wildfish toilets are closed.

Council closed the toilet after a review of service levels and complaints from the operator that the public were abusing the facility which was negatively impacting on his business. Council has also constructed an additional public toilet in Rutter Park since the original construction of the Wildfish toilets.

At its Council Meeting on Tuesday 21 March, Wellington Shire Council decided to contact the lessee of the Wildfish Restaurant in Port Albert negotiate reopening of the Wildfish toilets to the public.

Although evidence provided to Council confirmed that the current provision of toilet facilities in Port Albert is adequate, Councillor Gayle Maher said that these public amenities were seen by people with a disability, medical condition or young children as essential to the area as they are in a popular area of town for visitors.  

Council will install new wayfinding signage in Port Albert to provide information on the existing public toilets available in the town.