Lae public toilet reduced to rubble

THE old concrete foundation of Lae’s Top Town public toilet was reduced to a pile of rubble yesterday morning.
The site was bulldozed on Monday, the same day The National ran a story and picture of the weed-infested eyesore, questioning why a new facility was never constructed.
For many regulars of the central business district (CBD), for years it had been an eyesore and a reminder that there is no other public toilet facility for the daily crowds of shoppers and commuters in the area.
It is now perceived as the groundwork for a new construction but an officer with Lae City Council’s engineering and technical division couldn’t
confirm that. However, the officer conceded that it was the work of the city council.
“I believe the council is involved but my office is not made formally aware of it,” Alex Gawi said yesterday.
If it is the start of a new public toilet construction, it is welcome news because the absence of a good toilet facility in the CBD has badly affected visiting shoppers for years.
Gawi also said the Eriku public toilet could serve the public but the facility was undergoing
construction.

“Unless my department is satisfied that the facility is completed to a high standard, it is in breach of a standing contract to talk about the disbursement of fees to the city council,” he said.
According to Gawi, the contract between the operator of Eriku public toilet, Lae City Public Convenience Services and the Lae City Council stipulated that 30% of the revenue generated would be remitted after the facility was commissioned.
He added that the contract was still effective after 15 years.