OURIMBAH COMMUNITY LEFT OUT AGAIN
Ourimbah residents have been shocked by news that the heritage listed Nissen Hut and public toilet located on the corner of Glen Road and Jaques Street near Ourimbah shops will soon be removed.
The Nissen Hut is a World War Two period structure which for many years was used as a community hall and donated in the 1990s to Newcastle University by the Ourimbah School of Arts.
The toilet block was recently closed by Council without any notice to the local community. The toilet is still listed as open on The National Public Toilet Map https://toiletmap.gov.au/58450#
Following enquiries by Member for The Entrance, David Mehan, it can now be revealed that Council have declined to take over the site and have approved the University’s application to remove the Hut and close the toilet.
The University now advises that it intends to sell the land occupied by the toilet and Nissen Hut.
The Ourimbah Masterplan recommended re-use of the Nissen Hut be considered to provide a new community centre as part of a new Main Street and Public Square for the town centre.
On 13 January, Mr Mehan met with the Ourimbah Region Residents Association (ORRA) where it was resolved that Mr Mehan would write to both the University and Council seeking return of the land for community use and retention of the public toilet at the site.
“It would appear that Council and the University have both conspired to remove another local heritage item and the only public toilets available at the local shopping centre and were hoping to do so without telling the community.”
“The land occupied by the Hut should be returned to the community and the public toilet retained,” said Mr Mehan.