Central Coast Council has allocated $830,360 for the construction of a new public toilet block at the Lake Munmorah Recreation Precinct in Doyalson North, addressing a gap in facilities for visitors to the nearly completed playground. The precinct, which has cost $3.81 million so far, lacked dedicated amenities for public use, a shortfall identified late in the project’s development.

Initially, planners assumed that visitors could use restrooms available at the shopping centre adjacent to the site. However, a report presented to the council’s Infrastructure and Assets Committee concluded that those facilities were insufficient to support the precinct’s long-term needs. The council then considered an alternative option: the toilet block at the nearby Northern Lakes Warriors Rugby League Club. This facility was ruled out due to its below-standard condition and its location, approximately 200 meters from the playground, which was seen as too distant to be reasonably accessible, particularly for families and people with mobility challenges.

In response, council decided to fund a new, purpose-built toilet block next to the playground, drawing the funds from the budget of a separate nearby sports field development. The planned amenities will be fully accessible and are set to include an adult change facility and CCTV security for safety and monitoring purposes.

This additional investment represents over a 21 percent increase to the precinct’s budget, bringing the total project cost to $4.64 million. The decision reflects the council’s commitment to providing essential services for community recreational spaces, although some critics may view it as a delayed response to an oversight in initial planning. The new facilities are expected to improve the user experience and support the precinct’s operation once it opens to the public.