Redland City Council’s decision to close a public toilet near the Macleay Island Golf Club has sparked public backlash.
Resident Gray Mewburn hit out at the move, saying the island could not afford to lose the toilet as public assets on Macleay were already scarce.
“I don’t have a car, so I walk everywhere on the island and the toilet block wasn’t too far from where I lived,” he said.
“Now, it is at least a half-hour walk to get to a public toilet.”
Mr Mewburn said the closest public toilet blocks were located at the ferry terminal and one near the shops.
Council said the toilet block was more than 30 years old, at the end of its asset life and was not compliant with current Australian standards relating to accessibility and inclusiveness.
Mr Mewburn said he had spoken to other residents and the majority were hoping the island could keep the facility.
“It is certainly an asset worth keeping, it is not like the council needs to spend $10,000 doing it up,” he said.
“It’s solid and in good order.
“If this was a mega-money cost of the council, I would understand but to the best of my knowledge the only problem here is the odd bit of graffiti.”
He said the nearby Macleay Island Golf Club would suffer the most consequences from the closure as members often used the toilet block.
“Any golfer that is down the eastern end of the golf course wants to use a toilet that is only a short walk away,” Mr Mewburn said.
Macleay Island Golf Club secretary Peggy Pickavance said many golf club members used the toilet as it was the only one near the course.
“We have toilets in the clubhouse, but many members used the public toilet block because it was such easy access at that end of the course,” she said.
“It is definitely inconvenient as members are now having to rush back to the clubhouse.”
A council statement said with investment, the toilet block had the potential to be repurposed as a storage facility.
Council opened expressions of interest to community organisations in August to determine the future use and management arrangements of the toilet block. Submissions closed on September 22.
