By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council has conceded it will require State heritage approval before it can demolish the toilet block behind the Warwick Town Hall.
As reported in the Free Times print edition yesterday, Thursday 25 May, councillors at their May meeting in Stanthorpe on Wednesday were split over the proposal to demolish the masonry toilet block, which the council says is unsafe and an eyesore.
In the absence of deputy mayor Jo McNally, who is on annual leave, mayor Tracy Dobie used her casting vote to break a four-all deadlock between the councillors over the demolition.
But the Free Times can confirm that, contrary to a previous statement by the council, the toilets are covered by the State heritage listing over the Warwick Town Hall and the council will need to apply for State approval to knock them down.
A spokeswoman for the State Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) told the Free Times the toilet block is “within the State heritage listing boundary for this particular heritage place”.
“As such, an exemption certificate or development application for demolition would have to be made prior to any demolition of the toilet block, and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has advised the council accordingly,” she said.
“To date the department has not received such an application.”
The Free Times has also sighted an email from the EHP’s Heritage Branch to one of the council’s planning officers on Thursday, ensuring that the council is aware of the proper process.
“The Heritage Branch has received an inquiry related to the public toilets located behind the Warwick Town Hall, which I understand SDRC voted to decommission yesterday,” the email reads.
“Similar to the Leslie Gates at Leslie Park, the block is contained within the Queensland heritage register boundary for Town Hall and Footballers Memorial [QHR600961] however there is no information in the current heritage register entry related to them.
“As the block is contained within the heritage boundary, an exemption certificate or development approval would still be required for any proposed relocation.
“I know that you are aware of this process, but I thought it best to email in case there was any misunderstanding from SDRC councillors or staff.”
A press release issued by the council on Thursday 27 April – at the start of public consultation over demolition of the toilets – stated that:
“This facility is not heritage listed, and in fact the Warwick Town Hall Conservation Management Plan states that the brick toilets have no cultural heritage significance and can be removed, replaced or renovated as required.”
Nearly 40 submissions were received from the public with the majority in favour of the toilets remaining in place.
One local resident has even offered to paint the toilets for the council at his own expense.
At Wednesday’s council meeting councillors Sheryl Windle, Marika McNichol, Neil Meiklejohn and Vic Pennisi all voted against demolishing the toilets.
In the pro-demolition camp were councillors Rod Kelly, Yve Stocks, Cameron Gow and Mayor Dobie herself, making it four-all.
In using her casting vote to break the deadlock and voting for their demolition Cr Dobie described the toilets as an “eyesore” and unsafe.
If successful in demolishing the toilets the council plans to turn the space into parking for RV campervans.
