RELIEF was promised in March last year but Hurstville bus commuters are still crossing their legs or making a desperate dash to far-away toilets.
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They want to know why Hurstville Council and Oatley MP Mark Coure have not kept their promise to build a public toilet at the new bus interchange in Forest Road.
"When you get to a certain age there are calls of nature that you don't know you are going to get," said regular bus commuter Jack Haran, 83.
"The closest toilet is at Hurstville station so you run and hope not to have an accident."
Mr Haran's wife Betty pointed out a toilet wasn't just about older people as mothers with young children were just as inconvenienced, particularly if they were weighed down with strollers and shopping bags.
"And I certainly couldn't run to Westfield," she said.
Zhong Li, 71, is just as concerned.
"Many people who pass by, especially senior citizens, have to go to the railway station," Mr Li said.
It was also pointed out that the station toilets closed at 6pm.
Councillors Justin Mining and Dominic Sin referred to last year's story in the Leader in which then mayor Steve McMahon and Mr Coure committed to seeking 50-50 funding towards the building costs, estimated at about $90,000.
"When the bus interchange was opened in 2011, the state government provided toilets for use by bus drivers but neglected to provide some for use by commuters," Cr Mining said.
"We are urging our fellow councillors and Mark Coure to listen to these concerns and support our call for the necessary funding so work can begin as soon as possible."
Cr Sin said commuters were fed up with not having public toilets at the interchange.
‘‘It is absurd that commuters have to go and find public toilets away from the interchange if they need to use them whilst waiting for a bus,’’ Cr Sin said.
‘‘Whilst this may be just an inconvenience for some, it creates enormous difficulty for the many elderly and commuters [with disabilities] who rely on public transport.’’
Mr Coure said he would be more than happy to fund new toilets at the bus interchange but the next move was up to the council.
‘‘The toilets should have been in place when the interchange was built under the previous Labor government,’’ Mr Coure said.
‘‘Justin Mining and his friends on council should have thought of putting in toilets before demolishing the existing toilets diagonally opposite the interchange.
‘‘Once council applies for funding I’m willing to match it dollar for dollar up to $40,000.’’
Should the toilet be built at the bus interchange?
