Developer to provide public toilets at ground level of new Cronulla hotel under proposed planning agreement

The toilets will front Beach Park Avenue - the walkway from the train station to the beach.

The developer, through the ground floor food and beverage premises operator, will be responsible for cleaning the toilets, daily opening and closing and security.

For its part, the council will upgrade the remaining part of the walkway, with the developer contributing an "incentive payment" of $200,000.

The agreement has been worked out between Sutherland Shire Council staff and Munro JV Operations, the company formed by developer Allen Sammut to develop the hotel, which is awaiting final approval by the regional planning panel.

The council's planning committee has recommended in-principle support for the voluntary planning agreement due to the public benefits, with final terms to be negotiated after the proposal is exhibited for public comment.

A staff report said the amenities would consist of four cubicles (one accessible, one ambulant, one male and one female) in a floor area of approximately 25 square metres.

"The fittings and finish will be consistent with the standard recently provided by council at Cronulla beach," the report said.

"Security will be provided by the operator of the ground floor food and beverage premises during its operating hours.

"Council will be responsible for consumables (toilet paper, soap, sanitary bins etc).

"The toilets will be leased to council at a rate of $1 per year for 20 years with a further 20 year option.

"The toilets will be open from 6.30am and be closed outside of the operating hours of the ground floor food and beverage premises, or as otherwise agreed by council."

The report said the proposed agreement represented a contribution in the order of $1,501,900 over a 20-year period as well of the delivery of a much-needed public facility the council had not been able to realise.

"Stand-alone public toilets are very difficult to accommodate because there is no surplus land in the southern section of Cronulla, and potential sites result in adverse consequences for surrounding land," the report said.

"For example, locating a toilet block within Monro Park would detract from its landscape setting and heritage value, while placing a toilet block in the pedestrian space at the southern end of Cronulla Street would impact adjacent shops and compromise passive surveillance within the public domain.

"Potential sites must also have the capacity for water and sewage connections which is challenging and costly."

The report said the service standard was likely to be higher than that typically provided by a council managed facility because it would have a security presence.

"It is also likely that the operator of the ground floor food and beverage premises will see the benefit in a high standard of cleaning given the proximity to their business," the report said.

"While less tangible, these elements are also part of the public benefit of the offer."