Residents of a frustrated Geelong suburb have taken road repair protests to a new and bizarre level, using a historic toilet, an array of traffic cones, and even phallic street art to highlight a dangerous and long-neglected pothole.
A toilet, cones and a crude drawing: The anatomy of a protest
The scene unfolded on Shannon Avenue in Geelong West, where a large and treacherous pothole had become a notorious hazard for local drivers and cyclists. After repeated complaints to the City of Greater Geelong council went seemingly unheeded, the community decided to make a statement that couldn't be ignored.
First, a vintage-style toilet was carefully placed directly into the crater. This was followed by the strategic positioning of multiple bright orange traffic cones around the site. The final, unmistakable touch was a large, crudely drawn phallic symbol in yellow spray paint on the road surface, pointing directly at the offending hole. The protest was captured in photos that quickly began circulating online on Tuesday, April 9.
The toilet itself is reported to be a historic piece, possibly sourced from a nearby property demolition, adding a layer of ironic commentary on the council's perceived inaction. One local resident, who spoke to the Geelong Advertiser but wished to remain anonymous, summed up the mood: "It's become a joke. You report it, they mark it, and nothing happens. Maybe now they'll finally notice."
Council response and immediate action
The very public and unusual protest achieved its immediate goal. A City of Greater Geelong spokesperson confirmed that council crews were dispatched to Shannon Avenue to assess the situation shortly after the protest gained attention.
The council stated that the site required a "more complex repair" due to the condition of the underlying road base, which had delayed a permanent fix. Following the protest, crews performed a temporary repair to make the area safe, with a promise that a full reconstruction of that section of road is scheduled for the coming financial year.
"We thank the community for their patience as we work through a significant backlog of road repairs following recent weather events," the spokesperson said. However, they also discouraged residents from taking matters into their own hands in such a manner, citing safety risks.
A symptom of a wider Geelong problem
This incident is not an isolated one. The Geelong region, like many parts of Australia, has been grappling with a deteriorating road network exacerbated by periods of heavy rain. The Shannon Avenue protest has resonated because it visually represents the frustration felt across many suburbs.
The protest highlights the growing tension between communities demanding safe infrastructure and local governments managing limited budgets and large repair backlogs. While the method was unconventional, it has sparked a broader conversation about infrastructure maintenance and community engagement in Geelong.
Whether through official channels or with the help of a second-hand toilet and spray paint, the message from Geelong West residents is clear: they want their roads fixed, and they want it done properly. The council's promised permanent repair in the new financial year will be closely watched by a community that has run out of patience.
