The lack of public toilet and rubbish facilities along Noosa North Shore continues to be an issue for locals who have called for them for years.
“After a holiday period the “overflow” of both these is evident on the beach and people do spend time volunteering to clean up,” one local resident said.
“Toilets at First Cutting to service the needs of the adventure camp, hotel and holiday makers, makes sense.”
Twice a year the Sunshine Coast branch of Surfrider Foundation Australia works with Noosa and Gympie councils and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) officers to clean up the area from First to Third Cutting.
Surfrider Sunshine Coast president Stephen James said two to five tons of rubbish were removed each clean up.
This year because of Covid-19 restrictions numbers permitted to the area have been reduced.
The coronavirus has also led Surfrider to cancel rubbish removal usually held in July with the next clean up scheduled for October.
Mr James said a lot of work had been done to keep the area clean and educate campers.
Siting a toilet at one end of the beach may be an expensive exercise but not a simple solution.
But with an average arrival of 2500 campers visiting during holidays the days of digging toilet holes has past.
A Department of Environment and Science spokesperson said there were no plans to construct toilet facilities at First Cutting.
“QPWS provides toilet facilities at Double Island Point and Freshwater Campground which are available for day visitors and campers to Teewah Beach,“ the spokesperson said.
“Toilet facilities are also available on both sides of the Noosa River ferry crossing.“ QPWS has recently constructed a waste disposal facility (Dump-ezy) at Noosa North Shore’s Second cutting.
The facility will become operational in the coming weeks and will be available to all campers.
It will become the second Dump-ezy facility for the recreation area and complements the existing facility at the Freshwater Day Use Area.
“QPWS promotes minimal impact beach camping practices and encourages campers to bring their own portable toilets,” the spokesperson said.
“Campers can empty their portable toilets as soon as they depart the beach, and this facility will assist campers to transition to the greater use of portable toilets.
“Rangers will promote appropriate and sustainable visitor behaviour and practices and will take enforcement action if and when necessary.”
