One of Australia’s “hidden gem” tourist spots is being ruined by visitors “pooping” in the popular swimming hole.
Locals have said the lack of toilets at Little Blue Lake on the Limestone coast in South Australia’s south-east is becoming a big problem.
Little Blue is a picturesque sinkhole located in a meadow between two dormant volcanoes, Mount Schank and Mount Gambier.
Stairs and a floating pontoon have been built along the water’s edge to improve public safety and access, but no public restrooms are available.
Locals have said the lack of toilets at Little Blue Lake on the Limestone coast in South Australia’s south-east is becoming a big problem.
Graham Kilsby raised the issue at a Grant District Council meeting last week.
He owns and operates the nearby Kilsby Sinkhole, and has been going to Little Blue since he was a child.
Kilsby said he received many comments from tourists who felt bathrooms were a necessity there.
“I think what broke my spine is that we recently had a customer come down and see someone throwing trash in the cut under an apple tree near the water’s edge,” he said. The advertiser.
“People tend to spend most of the day there, or several hours, so without a toilet, it’s not hard to imagine where those people are urinating.”
Stairs and a floating pontoon have been built along the water’s edge to improve safety and public access, the only thing missing is a bathroom.
Ockert Le Roux, a local photographer who visited the lake during Easter, said he was “horrified” by what he saw.
He said the lack of sanitary facilities to accommodate up to 1,500 guests per day is worrying.
Le Roux urges the competent authorities to rectify the situation of the toilets, explaining that they pose a significant risk to health.
The Mount Gambier District Residents and Ratepayers Association said they had received “disturbing” reports of large amounts of human waste in and around the tourist site.
The Mount Gambier District Residents and Ratepayers Association said they had received “disturbing” reports of large amounts of human waste in and around the tourist site.
The site’s parking lot and road leading to the sinkhole could also use improvement; Mr Kilsby explains that there is often a lot of overflow in the car park during the summer months.
“It’s a matter of health and preserving the beauty and quality of the sinkhole and its surroundings,” he said.
Mayor Kylie Boston said any bathroom development on the site would have to be installed on land controlled by the state Department of Environment and Water after planning and approval.
The council will discuss the lack of facilities at the site in the coming months.
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted Ms Boston for further comment.