The Lilyponds Park toilet facilities have long been a source of concern for the Mapleton community. The park had been equipped with long-drop toilets, relics from a previous era that no longer met the demands of our growing and diverse community. Parents raised health and safety concerns, and community members reported being less inclined to access the park for casual gatherings due to perceptions of unsafe and unsavoury facilities.
The situation reached a critical point when the partial collapse of the toilet shafts forced their closure. This incident brought into sharp focus not only the immediate infrastructure failure but also a far more serious issue: the complete absence of disabled access public toilets in Mapleton. This was, and MADCA stated clearly at the time, a disgraceful situation that represented discrimination against community members with physical disabilities.
When the toilets closed, Sunshine Coast Regional Council initially proposed a replacement plan that would install flush toilets with an on-site treatment system but did not include disabled access facilities. Council staff acknowledged that an upgrade could address accessibility and capacity issues but indicated no intent to do so within the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the council indicated there was no capital works plan to upgrade the Lilyponds toilets in the next decade.
The council's suggestion that people with disabilities seeking toilet access should travel 4 kilometres down a dirt road to the Mapleton National Park Day Use Area was not only unacceptable but demonstrated a profound lack of understanding and respect for the needs of the community. MADCA was unequivocal in its assessment: this represented clear discrimination against those with physical disabilities and had to be challenged.
The inadequate toilet facilities at Lilyponds Park had long-term consequences beyond daily accessibility. When the park hosted large events, temporary portable toilets had to be hauled up the hill, installed, and subsequently removed, all at considerable expense. This impacted the affordability and logistical efficiency of community events including the popular Mapleton Country Markets and the annual Wuthering Heights of Mapleton day.
The lack of appropriate facilities created financial burdens and logistical hurdles that threatened the viability of community gatherings at what should have been Mapleton's central public space.
MADCA recognised that this was not just about convenience—it was about dignity, inclusion, and equity. The organisation immediately launched a comprehensive advocacy campaign, calling on all community members to write to Sunshine Coast Regional Council demanding that the Lilyponds Park toilet replacement include disability accessible facilities and increased capacity.
Through Councillor David Law, MADCA approached the council to explore upgrading the Lilypond toilets to better serve the park's diverse array of users. MADCA members were clear in their position: the failure to address accessibility upgrades concurrently with the treatment system renewal would result in increased overall costs due to rework required with a later upgrade. The community deserved better planning and better priorities.
MADCA provided sample letters to guide community members in their communications with council, emphasising the need to personalise messages with individual experiences and concerns. The campaign principle was simple but powerful: the more individual voices the council heard, the more likely they were to take action.
MADCA acknowledged that council was working to renovate existing public toilets across the region to provide shower facilities for increasing numbers of homeless people, a worthy cause, but argued this should not come at the expense of providing basic access for all members of the community. Inclusivity, MADCA maintained, begins with disability access.
The sustained community advocacy, coordinated by MADCA and championed by local residents, proved effective. Council recognised the strength of community feeling and the legitimacy of the accessibility concerns. Extensive consultation with the Mapleton community was undertaken throughout 2024-25, with MADCA President Peter Gamgee participating actively in discussions alongside Councillor Law.
The consultation process demonstrated genuine community engagement. When council surveyed residents about potential additions to the park upgrade, 87% of respondents supported the inclusion of a multi-use half-court for basketball, netball, and pickleball, which was subsequently incorporated into the design.
Sunshine Coast Council ultimately committed to a comprehensive $480,000 upgrade of Lilyponds Park, with $350,000 allocated to the amenities block and $130,000 for the half-court facility.
Construction began in August 2025, and the upgraded facilities opened to the public on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The transformation was comprehensive:
Mayor Rosanna Natoli acknowledged the outcome: "Whether it's a game of basketball or pickleball, a walk through the gardens, or simply enjoying the outdoors, this space now offers more ways for people of all ages and abilities to connect, move and thrive... We worked in connection with the Mapleton community and delivered upgrades that make Lilyponds Park more accessible, inclusive and active for everyone."
Councillor David Law (Division 10) stated: "We heard the call for better accessibility and more recreational options, and we've delivered... The new amenities are modern, inclusive and future-ready, and the half court is already proving popular with young people and families. This is a big win for Mapleton and a great example of how we're working together to create vibrant, inclusive spaces for everyone."
Cr Law emphasised the collaborative process: "We listened and collaborated with the Mapleton community for the best way forward... This is a timely enhancement with the upcoming half-court facility expected to boost park visitation."
A Sunshine Coast Council representative confirmed: "The Mapleton Lilyponds Park public amenities block is completed (just waiting on locks for the doors) and will be open and available for our community to use from this Thursday morning... It's great to see this facility completed, opened and ready to be used by the community from Thursday 13 November. We thank the Mapleton community for their input, patience and support throughout the project."
The Lilyponds Park accessible toilets campaign represents a significant victory for community-driven advocacy and demonstrates several critical lessons:
Lilyponds Park now stands as a modern, welcoming facility where people of all ages and abilities can gather, play, and connect. The park serves as a central hub for community life, properly equipped to host events without the logistical burden and expense of temporary facilities. Most importantly, it provides dignity and access to all community members, regardless of physical ability.
For MADCA, this outcome represents more than infrastructure, it demonstrates what can be achieved when a community refuses to accept inadequate provision, organises effectively, and advocates persistently for equity and inclusion. The campaign showed that community voice matters, that local advocacy organisations can drive change, and that councils will respond when communities demand better.
Mapleton now has public toilets that are usable by everyone, regardless of their physical abilities. This achievement stands as a testament to MADCA's commitment to fostering an inclusive, vibrant, and connected community. As MADCA stated from the outset: inclusivity begins with disability access. The Lilyponds Park accessible toilets prove that principle can become reality when communities work together and refuse to settle for less than dignity and equity for all.
