Public urination across the weekend has flushed out a need for additional toilets at Wagga’s MTC.
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Overall, Wagga police praised Aggies Race Day patrons for ‘pretty good’ behaviour and attitudes across the weekend.
But Inspector Adrian Telfer said the number of racegoers lining up to use the bathroom had been a problem. He said this issue was highlighted after three residents were busted relieving themselves inappropriately.
They were issued infringement notices for offensive behaviour.
“Police are in discussions with organisers about making more toilets available in the future,” Inspector Telfer said. “Lines were too long, especially for the ladies.”
Close to 6300 race-goers braved the cold for the city’s second biggest meet of the year on Saturday, which was an unexpected increase on last year’s crowd, according to MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook.
According to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, an alcohol approved event, involving more than 5000 patrons, should have 30 urinals, 12 toilets and 20 hand basins for men, and 40 toilets, with 20 hand basins for women.
Mr Sanbrook said MTC facilities had exceeded this on Saturday, but he added the unanticipated hike in patrons had put a strain on bathrooms.
He said a blockage in one of three toilet blocks had not helped matters, but could not be predicted.
“We were up about 1000 [patrons] on the previous year,” Mr Sanbrook said. “It’s one of those things that is hard to predict, but now we can take that on board and prepare for next year.”
He said general feedback about the event had been mostly positive, with the Ag Races “building momentum every year”.
Additional police were out and about, patrolling pubs, clubs and roads, as festivities continued into the night.
Officers said most racegoers had been well behaved, with only one racegoer given a ticket for failing to leave Romano’s, three drivers busted for mid-range drink driving and one caught driving under the influence of drugs.
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