A MOVE to demolish or decommission some of Tweed's oldest public toilets has prompted a campaign by a leading local conservationist to save the dunnies.

Caldera Environment Centre co-ordinator Hop'e Hopkins says he and several younger architects want Tweed Shire Council to consider adding ultra-modern disabled-access cubicles to existing toilet blocks to keep them up to standard.

Councillors last month voted to defer any decision until this month on demolishing toilets in McIllwrath Park off Commercial Rd in Murwillumbah and in Buckley Park, on the corner of the Tweed Valley Way and Prospero St, South Murwillumbah.

They also deferred any decision on decommissioning toilets in Queen St in the heart of Murwillumbah, at Razorback Lookout Tweed Heads and Wommin Lake, Fingal.

Under a recommendation put forward by senior staff the Queen St toilet building would be retained for other council use due to its “heritage value”.

“The council seems to be wanting to eradicate all the old toilets,” said Mr Hopkins.

“Myself and a couple of young architects are putting together an idea where you could have a unisex cubicle that is wheelchair friendly and install it next to existing toilets to bring them up to standard without having to demolish them.

“A lot of these buildings have a good character.

“They have pressed-clay bricks which are much more solid than the modern brick which is full of holes.

“They are done in a style we call modernist.”

A council spokeswoman said councillors further discussed the toilets at a “workshop” meeting on Tuesday night.