There are growing fears a well-known Sunshine Coast landmark has been earmarked for demolition, despite a weight of community support to keep it.
A petition with 1039 signatures opposed to removing the Loo with a View and observation decks was lodged with the council during the public feedback period for a new Central Meeting Place in Mooloolaba.
But despite the community’s push, a council report released this week said many areas of the “ageing” Loo were “beyond repair”, did not meet modern standards and were at risk of the impacts of climate change.
The Loo with a View is located in an area proposed for a new Central Meeting Place as part of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project.
The council has been seeking feedback to help shape the future of the public space.
Sunshine Coast Councillor Joe Natoli said he was concerned the Loo with a View would be knocked down for a new public amenity.
“The community is really expressing a strong view about wanting to retain the loo, in a form that’s still recognisable, not something that has been demolished and then re-started,” he said.
“The principals of sustainability are about repurposing, rather than demolishing and rebuilding, and the community has indicated that they want to retain the Loo.
“I understand there are challenges with that, but with the right intent I believe we can come up with something the community can live with.”
Council acknowledged it received a community petition calling for the Loo with a View and viewing decks to be retained and renovated in the current location.
But Sunshine Coast Council’s Acting Group Executive for Liveability and Natural Assets Bill Haddrill said many parts of the structure were too run down and inaccessible.
“Independent engineering and accessibility assessments have deemed many components of the 25-year-old Loo with a View building as beyond repair and not compliant with current People with Disability Access or modern sustainable building design standards,” he said.
“Council will now consider the community feedback, engineering reports as well as any state authority approvals and funding requirements to develop some design concepts.
“These will be presented back to the community for input later this year.”
Cr Natoli said many professional designers also believed the structure should be kept.
“There is a group of architects (the Architects for Resilient Communities Sunshine Coast) that has been urging council to keep the Loo and to look at renovating it and making whatever modifications are necessary,” he said.
“They believe the structure is worth keeping in terms of its heritage value.
“They acknowledge there needs to be some modifications, because we all know any structure like that needs to be renovated after a period of time in a harsh environment.
“But they have written some strong comments in regard to their desire to see the Loo pretty much retained in its current look and feel.”
Cr Natoli said he was dismayed that the structure’s original architect, Lindsay Clare, had not been contacted by council during the consultation period.
“I think that’s extraordinary, that council did not reach out to him and see what his views were,” he said.
Cr Natoli said council had seemingly homed in on the structure’s lack of accessibility as a major detriment but he said there were many other places within Mooloolaba that required more attention in that regard.
“During the public consultation, council brought in people from disability groups, who voiced their concerns about it not meeting standards,” he said.
“But there is a playground nearby (that does not meet standards) and I think anyone in a wheelchair would struggle to get up Brisbane Road to even get to the Loo with a View.”
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Cr Natoli said he felt like the option to retain the Loo in its current location “has never really been on the cards”.
“If you look at the 2019 masterplan, the first image you see is something that looks like the Loo with a View but it’s actually in front of the Zanzibar building on the other side of the roundabout.
“That means the current Loo would be demolished and rebuilt in some form, with some viewing decks and similarities. But it’s not the Loo with a View and in its current location.”
Central Meeting Place of the future
The results from the community consultation period indicated a future meeting place in Mooloolaba should be accessible for all users (92 per cent), provide access to an area with views of the ocean and bay (90 per cent), offer a place to sit and meet friends in all seasons (89 per cent) and consider public safety (86 per cent).
Mr Haddrill said the engagement provided a clear view of community values for the meeting place.
“Participants agreed Mooloolaba’s stunning beaches and outstanding natural beauty were the hero for the foreshore,” he said.
“Community values for the revitalised Central Meeting Place included a desire for more open grass space, retaining ocean views and enhancing Mooloolaba’s reputation as a world-class destination.”
