Unsafe, filthy East Beach loos an embarrassment
THE East Beach ablutions, at both car parks, are in a horrendous state, having been vandalised and overflowing with raw sewage and sand.
Local surfer and Kowie Boardriders Club chairman Warwick Heny expressed his concern over the state of the toilet facilities as they are unusable and hazardous to the health and safety of the public.
Heny stated in an events organising meeting for the upcoming Amazing Events Easter Festival that the facilities had not been cleaned since December.
According to Heny’s account of the facilities, the septic tanks are overflowing and leaking raw sewage onto the car park.
“I think that different departments are responsible here,” Heny said.
“There has not been regular emptying of the septic tanks and this is required, immediately, and then every few days the employees responsible need to check that the tanks are not overflowing. This could be infrastructure?
“Then [the] health [inspector] needs to ensure the toilets are cleaned properly and regularly,” Heny said.
“School holidays start this Friday [tomorrow]. Besides the Amazing Events weekend over Easter, when we need these loos to be working and immaculate, school holidays are important and many visitors are at our beaches. It’s not only Kelly’s Beach that needs attention.”
He took several photos to illustrate the severity of the situation.
“I would be embarrassed to run an event in the state the beaches are in now.
“This municipality is spending millions on our roads, and nothing on maintenance, it seems.”
Heny asked that councillor Ray Schenk and Sunshine Coast Tourism manager Sandy Birch visit the toilets to see for themselves.
“We are not hiring porta-loos – they cost too much and the people expected during these times are no more than on a busy day in December. We have toilets; they just need to work and be kept clean.”
Municipal spokesman Cecil Mbolekwa did not respond before going to print.