The Lilyponds Park has long been a focal point for our community. The recent partial collapse of the toilet shafts has brought into sharp focus the long-standing issue of inadequate and inaccessible infrastructure. While the immediate concern is the closure of the toilets,, the incident also highlights the broader problem, specifically the complete lack of consideration for those with special access needs, and the ongoing struggle for appropriate community facilities. The current plan for replacement toilets does not include disabled access, a critical oversight that MADCA is now actively campaigning to address.
Mapleton currently has no disabled access public toilets. This is a disgraceful situation. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council's inference that people with disabilities seeking toilet access should travel 3 km down a dirt road to the Mapleton National Park Day Use Area is not only unacceptable but demonstrates a profound lack of understanding and respect for the needs of the community. This is a clear example of discrimination of those with physical disabilities, and it must be challenged. MADCA believes that disabled access toilet facilities are essential, especially considering the aging demographic and an essential requirement at Lilyponds Park, a central gathering space for residents and visitors.
MADCA members have been informed that the Council is planning to replace the toilets with flush toilets and an on-site treatment system. Council acknowledges an upgrade could be done to address accessibility and capacity issues, however, has indicated no intent of doing this within the foreseeable future. MADCA believes the failure to address this upgrade concurrently with the treatment system renewal will result in increased overall costs due to the rework required with a later upgrade. Furthermore, the council has indicated that there is no capital works plan to upgrade the Lilyponds toilets in the next decade. This inaction is simply not good enough.
MADCA is calling on all community members to immediately write to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to request that the Lilyponds Park toilet repair include disability accessible facilities and increased capacity. Mapleton deserves public toilets that are usable by everyone, regardless of their physical abilities. This is not just about convenience; it's about dignity and inclusion. A sample letter is available below to guide your communication with the council. Please take the time to personalise this letter with your own experiences and concerns. The more individual voices the council hears, the more likely they are to take action. Please support this vital initiative to provide Mapleton with adequate and accessible public toilet facilities. Our community deserves better.
Lilyponds Park is currently equipped with long-drop toilets, a relic from a previous era that no longer meets the demands of our community. The long drop toilets have been highlighted as a concern to parents who perceive both health and safety issues with them. Community members have informed MADCA that they are less inclined to access the park for casual gatherings because of the perception of unsafe and/or unsavoury facilities.
Also, when the park hosts large events, public temporary portable toilets must be hauled up the hill, installed, and subsequently removed, all at considerable expense. This inconvenience is impacting the affordability and logistical efficiency of events held at the park. Both the popular Mapleton Country Market's choice of location and the annual Wuthering Heights of Mapleton day both had to grapple with the dearth of appropriate facilities in Mapleton, and the resulting financial burdens and logistical hurdles that result.
It should be noted that council proposed fixing of the treatment system in the park toilets won’t preclude the need to bring in additional toilet facilities to support events such as the Wuthering Heights of Mapleton day. Decisions about the need for additional facilities are made on a case-by-case basis when permits are sought.
In response to this issue, MADCA, representing the community, is acting. Through Councillor Law, MADCA approached the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to explore the possibility of upgrading the Lilypond toilets to better serve the park's diverse array of users. The initial response from the council staff, indicated that the Lilyponds toilets are not a near-term priority for the council. Particularly as the council is working to renovate a number of the existing 200 plus public toilets in the region to provide shower facilities for the increasing numbers of homeless in our region. While this is a worthy cause, it should not come at the expense of providing basic access for all members of the community
Nonetheless, the assessment of the park facilities remains an ongoing project, and community feedback will be a crucial component in shaping the direction of this endeavour. This means your voice matters. Don't be silent.
As community members, we have a role to play in making this much-needed renovation a reality. As highlighted in the council’s response, community input is invaluable. By expressing our communities support for the renovation project and communicating its importance to our local officials, we help raise awareness and advocate for the cause. But we must do more than just express support. We must demand action.
Lilyponds Park serves as a gathering point for our community. It is essential that we ensure this beautiful space is equipped with modern, accessible, and appropriate amenities. Upgrading the public toilets is not only a practical necessity but a demonstration of MADCAs commitment to fostering an inclusive, vibrant and connected community... and inclusivity begins with disability access.
