General News
9 December, 2025
Big stink over toilet removal
A WELL-known Atherton publican has voiced his strong opposition to the impending demolition of a public toilet block in the main shopping precinct of Atherton.
Barron Valley Hotel owner Michael Nasser wants to make sure people in the town know that Tablelands Regional Council is set to get rid of a “perfectly good building” in Vernon Street, forcing shoppers to use toilets in his hotel or new ones being built in the Priors Creek recreation area.
“The council has approved to demolish the building so passersby can see the Priors Creek development which is a massive sacrifice for very little gain,” he said.
“The cost of demolishing this existing solid structure and then trying to find a solution of where to locate another in the Main Street is an absolute waste of ratepayers’ money.
“The existing structure really only needs tile polishing, the urinal replaced, the iron roof to be re-sheeted and the garden beds weeded – in other words, a total cost of less than $10,000.
“The disabled toilet and the female toilets are all good, however, the men’s does need some work.”
Mr Nasser has voiced his opposition to councillors and council officers but, to date, the organisation’s position remains unchanged.
“Council’s response is that two new toilets are being built, one at the end of the IGA car park and another one directly behind St Vinnies up against the Prior Creek tree line, so depending on where you are in the Main Street, at least 300-400 metres from the centre of town,” he said.
“How is anyone, particularly elderly people, expected to walk that far in the rain or blazing sun is beyond belief.”
The hotel already gets members of the public strolling in to use the toilets inside, and once the existing toilet block goes, he fears the numbers will grow exponentially.
“The extra people walking off the street to use our toilets facilities is currently out of control, which will only increase further once the current public toilets are demolished,” Mr Nasser said.
“We are very concerned for the legal and public liability risk to our business from the general public using our toilet facilities.
“Our only alternative is to place patron-only signs at the hotel entrances.
“However, we’ll still provide public access via the easement ramp and allow any wheelchair to use our disabled toilet.”
Correspondence to Mr Nasser from the council outlines why the toilets are being demolished.
“The demolition of the amenities was and continues to be considered appropriate because its location at the entrance of the Priors Creek development is inconsistent with the visual amenity of the broader Priors Creek development,” the email states.
“Further, the demolition does not significantly negatively impact the public interest, because the amenities block is being replaced by two separate, new amenities blocks within the adjacent Priors Creek precinct – located approximately 150m and 200m from the current Vernon Street location.
“Whilst there is no set standard for walking distances to public toilet facilities in Queensland or Australia, it is generally accepted that a 250-400 metre walk (or a four-minute walk) is acceptable in high use areas like CBDs to access amenities.
“The additional amenities will provide additional capacity by replacing the existing four pedestals and one urinal with a total of nine pedestals.
“There is asbestos in the current amenities building which is required to be removed by specialist contractors in the interests of long-term public health and safety and responsible strategic management of TRC assets.”
Council also listed other public toilets in the surrounding area, at places such as the Silo Shopping Centre and the Woolworths shopping complex.
“Although the demolition of the amenities building may result in some additional public usage of the toilets at the Barron Valley Hotel, TRC holds the view there are more than sufficient and accessible amenities within the Atherton CBD,” the email states.
