General News
3 February, 2026
Last ditch effort to save toilet block
A FORMAL complaint has been lodged with the Queensland Ombudsman over Tablelands Regional Council’s decision to demolish the main public toilet block in the CBD.
The council intends to demolish the toilet block in Vernon Street - which is central to the Main Street shopping precinct, making it highly accessible for quick use by locals, tourists, and shoppers – in favour of two new amenity blocks in the Priors Creek Parkland.
But Barron Valley Hotel publican Michael Nasser contends that the new facilities are up to 200m away and the lack of public amenities in the main street will mean his hotel will be a target for those who need to access a toilet.
In The Express in March last year, the council defended the removal of the Vernon St block, saying the building would block views of Priors Creek Parklands and that the Barron Valley Hotel provided “public toilets”.
In a last-ditch effort to retain the public amenity block, Mr Nasser has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman on the basis that the council has failed to do proper consultation, the impacts on businesses and the community, and council’s “unauthorised reference” to the private facilities in his hotel.
“We attended a hearing/meeting on 20 January 2026 with the six councillors, Mayor Rod Marti, and the CEO to discuss the matter further. We have had no formal written response or decision confirmation from council following that meeting,” he wrote in his complaint.
A letter to the council in September last year was responded to by TRC, but Mr Nasser said while the council acknowledged potential extra hotel use, it was deemed there was “no significant impact” and they declined to make a correction about the claim the hotel could be used by the public in The Express.
“While the letter provides a response, it remains inadequate in addressing key process and fairness concerns. Consultation appears insufficient and the public statement in The Express referenced our private toilets without permission/consultation, potentially misleading community and burdening our business unfairly,” Mr Nasser wrote in his complaint.
“The hearing/meeting we attended in January lacked follow-up formal notice as we were ushered out of the meeting before a discussion was made. Councillors were informed by the CEO that they were allowed to ask questions but not to give an opinion.”
In his complaint, Mr Nasser said he wanted an independent review of TRC’s consultation/process for the demolition decision and for the council to undertake a proper toilet needs analysis for the Atherton CBD.
“While new amenities are proposed, the complete removal of the current central facility without adequate transition or consultation is unacceptable and will disproportionately impact vulnerable community members,” Mr Nasser said last week.
“The next closest alternatives would require a 150–200m (or more) walk from the Vernon Street/Main Street intersection. This may seem minor, but in practice it translates to 3-5 minutes for able-bodied individuals – doubling or tripling for those with limitations and with a lot of elderly people living here, this must be considered.
“In the wet season, these paths become slippery, flooded, and congested, blocking traffic flow and exacerbating pedestrian hazards. This could lead to falls, fatigue, or avoidance of the CBD altogether.
“This creates a ‘toilet desert’ in the CBD core, deterring visitation and economic activity.
“The decision to demolish and replace this toilet also raises questions about fiscal responsibility.
“If the council is facing budget pressures, removing a functional asset to build new ones elsewhere risks unnecessary expenditure. Community resources should prioritise maintaining existing essential services rather than relocation projects that reduce immediate access.”
