Each time one of the community’s 35 ablutions blocks is cleaned it costs $75 to $125.

That adds up to an annual bill of $273,641.

In addition removing graffiti scrawls, fixing vandalism and dealing with blockages generates a $100,000 bill each year. 

But those costs are a drip in the toilet bowl compared to what it would require to upgrade all the blocks which are spread across Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Milawa, the King Valley and Eldorado.

That figure is $2.6 million.

The Rural City’s infrastructure services director Alan Clark highlighted the figure as he unveiled the council’s first public toilets review in three years.

“We want our toilets to be at their best, so one of the findings of this review is that we’re looking to upgrade all those toilet blocks,” Mr Clark told this week’s council meeting.

“We believe an estimate for that work, for the 35 blocks that we currently maintain and clean, is about $2.6 million, so it really highlights the need to develop a long-term strategic plan.”

Among the major pitfalls is a lack of access for residents and visitors who are disabled.

It was found 14 of the 35 blocks do not have a disabled toilet.

Springhurst, with a population of 315, lacks a public toilet altogether despite having a playground and bus stop.

Toilets at the railway station in the old Hume Highway town were shutdown several years ago.

In response to a resident’s concerns aired at this week’s meeting, Mr Clark also acknowledged there may be a need to add showers to the Appin Park toilet block used by hockey players.