A RESIDENT has raised concerns after discovering a used syringe on the floor of a public disabled toilet next to Rosebud pier. The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they found the syringe on 22 October and noticed that the sharps disposal box inside the toilet was overflowing, posing a risk to users.
The resident said it was very worrying to see an uncapped syringe lying on the floor, adding there was no excuse for maintaining safety and cleanliness. The uni-sex toilet, located near a playground and barbecue area, was described as “packed to the brim” with used syringes in the sharps box. “I saw one in the corner on the ground… I just wanted to get out of there,” they said.
They added the toilet was used by a school group the following morning, heightening their concern.
The long-term resident reported the issue to the Mornington Peninsula Shire, which assured them the matter would be treated as a priority. “It’s just not on. It’s disgraceful. In this day and age, after all the education we’ve had, this shouldn’t be happening,” the resident said. They also expressed concern that nearby bushes could pose a further hazard if discarded syringes were hidden or left behind, especially with children frequenting the area.
A Mornington Peninsula Shire spokesperson told The News, “Our contractor responsible for emptying containers was called when the issue was first reported to us and it was emptied a short time later”. “While regular cleaning is carried out, we thank community members reporting issues like this so we can fix them as quickly as possible.”
First published in the Mornington News – 28 October 2025
