The public toilets at The Rex in Vincent Street were closed down by arcade management several months ago in a move that raised the ire of the township.

Alternative public toilets are available at the end of the street at the Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre, which is located 200 metres from The Rex.

However, since Hepburn Shire Council officially decided to purchase the shopping arcade to build its $9.75 million Hepburn Hub, the toilets have re-opened and will be managed by council.

In this month’s council meeting, council CEO Aaron van Egmond said once construction began, the toilets would close again. However, he said council would consider a way of opening the toilets to the public again once the council moved its offices to the new location.

Mr van Egmond said while it wouldn’t be 24-hour access, the council would consider “extended office hours” such as 7am to 8pm.

Birch ward councillor Kate Redwood said the public toilets reopening at The Rex was a huge win, particularly for people with health issues.

“The thing that really thrilled me was the day that council signed the contract, the toilets were opened,” she said.

However, fellow councillor Pierre Niclas said council would need to come up with a long-term solution.

In particular, he said the current toilet set-up wouldn’t work, and nor would a system of council staff sharing public toilets, which would be open at different hours.

“Within the design at the front half, there’s plenty of opportunity to put in another set of toilets. The ones down the centre will probably be maintained as staff toilets.”

Cr Niclas said if Daylesford’s cinema remained at The Rex, it would be imperative to have easily-accessible toilets open until midnight. As an alternative, he suggested self-washing toilets near the former police station.