Location Challenges: Two little words that can conjure up the most animated of conversations! How many people will drive to a specific place because the toilets and/or amenities are clean and well-stocked, and conversely, how many people will drive out of their way to avoid the opposite? We all know the sort – dirty, smelly, no paper or soap, covered in graffiti, un-lit at night, and to be honest, finding the nearest roadside bush is more enticing than going into shabby places like that. So, when a new, environmentally sustainably designed toilet block is built, and it’s a beauty, hands up all those who will rave at the next stop, “Don’t forget to stop in up the road, the toilets are great!” That of course means you’ll most likely stay a while, perhaps visit the bakery, stroll around and possibly even check in to the local park if you’re not on a schedule. Well, there is such a new toilet block, and it’s sited at Meningie on the Coorong in South Australia. Meningie has been a natural stop for travellers for many years, being about an hour and a half south-east of Adelaide, on the way to the Limestone Coast. The Coorong of course is one of the world’s great natural treasures, and staying a while in Meningie gives you a chance to explore the quiet tranquillity of a World Heritage site.
Innovation: One of the most innovative features of the new toilets is the electronic flushing system. No buttons to press, just wave your hand over the sensor, and hey presto, the system gauges the amount of water to use and how long it should flush! This will be a great water-saving feature in a public building.
Design Aspects: A brand new brick type, made from recycled materials, has been used, and the insulation is new and far more effective in reducing summer heat. Flow through ventilation is a key feature of the design, and the paint that has been used is a unique new product which the manufacturers claim is safe enough to drink! Any paint with a 25 year guarantee, and which allows for the simple removal of graffiti, as well as being totally non-toxic, must be a good choice.
Environmental Innovation: A number of features were incorporated into the design to not only make the building attractive, but to reduce the amount of water used and keep patrons safe at all hours of the day. The design is modern, to the latest standards of space and layout, and is aesthetically pleasing. The disabled toilet is extra large to accommodate a baby-change area, and stainless steel appliances make cleaning and maintenance a breeze. Provision has been made for the addition of solar panels in the near future and rainwater tanks will make the building completely self-sufficient in water use.
