by PETER CHAPMAN
AN old fashioned ‘long drop’ toilet is literally a toilet seat that sits over the top of a large pit.
You may have come across one on the side of the highway at a remote rest stop, but rarely will you have had to deal with one in a major township.
Ipswich currently has one that services Caledonian Park at Thagoona and Division 4 councillors Jim Madden and David Martin are doing their best to have it replaced.
Cr Martin said he came across the long drop when he recently went out to watch his grandson play in a major soccer carnival at the venue that attracted a big crowd.
“Council has assisted for major club carnivals by hiring some portaloo’s, but this quick fix needs to be avoided in the future,” he said.
The two councillors recently put forward an urgent request to have the toilet replaced with a modern flushable system and the early news is there may be a light at the end of the big drop tunnel for the Rosewood United Football Club who use the nearby three ovals weekly.
“Council staff have advised us that the first step is to prepare detailed plans, designs and specifications for construction of the new toilet system,” Cr Madden said.
“They believe the estimated cost for planning and design will be about $80,000 and they have applied for this money through the local Ti Tree Bioenergy Fund.
“Once the plans are completed the next step will be to apply for State Government funding or the project could be put on council's capital expenditure list for consideration next year.”
The project is yet to be fully costed, but rough estimates have it at around $800,000.
URGENT ACTION
Replacing the old fashioned and unsanitary toilets has become a priority for the Rosewood United Soccer club following its massive expansion over the past five years.
Club president, Tammy Crawford, said when she joined the new Board at the club five years ago they were on the brink of closing and were almost down to one team.
“Through the dedication of the members we are now one of the fastest growing junior soccer clubs in the state and currently boast 250 players and 19 teams,” she said.
“The long drop toilets have become an embarrassment for not only the club, but also for Ipswich.
“Young children cannot use the toilet without an adult with them and the disabled toilet door is so small you can’t get a wheelchair through it.
“It’s fine to see the two councillors now supporting us to have the block replaced, but we have been on about this for years and we got no action.
“I even brought this up in person with Mayor Teresa Harding, in January and at the time she just smiled and said ‘I’ll look into it’,” Tammy said.
“Finally, 10 months later Cr Madden and Martin are doing something, although it needs to happen sooner rather than drag on for years more.”
Council plumbing staff informed the councillors that the best option to install a new flushable toilet was with a treatment plant.
The plant was required they said because the park didn’t have access to mains sewerage.