Desperate need for toilet facilities at Little Blue Lake

One visitor recalled the moment they saw a fellow tourist “taking a dump” at the popular hotspot all because it’s lacking one thing.

A popular sink hole in South Australia that attracts thousands of tourists every year is facing a gross problem — all caused by the lack of public toilets.

Little Blue Lake on the Limestone Coast is known to be one of the country’s “hidden gems” with its postcard-worthy looks a big drawcard.

The picturesque sinkhole is nestled in a paddock between two dormant volcanoes, Mount Schank and Mount Gambier and regularly features on TikTok with visitors showing off the “incredible” hotspot.

Stairs and a floating pontoon have also been built down by the waters edge to improve public safety and accessibility.

Little Blue Lake is located on the Limestone Coast in Australia. Picture: Google

However, it has since become the talk of town for all the wrong reasons.

Locals say the lack of a toilets is becoming a big problem as it has forced some visitors to relieve themselves at the lake.

@tomschumacher14 📍Little Blue Lake, South Australia. Have you been for a swim before? #roadtrip #travelaustralia #lapofaustralia #vanlife #traveltok #travel #australia #summerroadtrip #southaustralia #limestonecoast ♬ Scared To Start - Michael Marcagi

Graham Kilsby, who is the owner of Kilsby Sinkhole, another popular sinkhole about a five-minute drive from Little Blue, described the situation as “sad”.

“The lake has always needed toilets. I run a business nearby and we get a lot of tourists that come through and make a number of comments about the lack of toilets there,” Mr Kilsby told news.com.au.

It attracts thousands of tourists every year. Picture: TikTok

He said the situation that “broke the camels back” was when he was told a visitor had taken a “dump” in the cutting.

“There was unfortunately a customer who visited the lake and saw somebody going to toilet behind an apple tree — they felt embarrassed and left.”

Mr Kilsby brought the matter to the Grant District Council at their monthly meeting last week, telling councillors the lake is in desperate need of public toilets.

“Some previously mentioned it wasn’t council’s responsibility because where the toilets need to go is in the car park and that’s not council owned,” he told news.com.au.

It’s known to be one of the country’s ‘hidden gems’ with its postcard-worthy looks a big drawcard. Picture: TikTok

“But the lake has been affected and it is the council’s responsibility in some way — something needs to be done.”

Mr Kilsby, who has been visiting the popular sink hole since he was a child, said he’s noticed a change in colour of the lake.

“It doesn’t smell at this point, but I have noticed the colour change in the lake,” he said.

“It’s the Little Blue Lake, but it’s more like a greeny colour — and that’s just not to do with human waste but the water in our region, another issue that needs to be looked at as well.”

Mr Kilsby said it is the most visited sinkhole in the Mount Gambier region and he doesn’t believe enough is being done to protect and present it in the best way possible.

“I don’t believe we are doing a very good job in looking after our sink holes. I heard somebody described Little Blue as the ‘forgotten sink hole’.”

He told local publication The SE Voice the facilities were needed not only for people that visit the lake, but also for swimmers.

“People spend most of the day there, or a number of hours. So, we probably have an idea of where those people are weeing,” he said.


“Cave divers use the site. I’m sure they would like to relieve themselves before going for a dive.”

However – it's facing a gross problem due to the lack of toilet facilities with people relieving themselves in and around the lake. Picture: TikTok

He said while it’s promoted as a swimming hole, he refuses to swim in it as he knows what happens. 


Mr Kilsby said he’s confident that the council will look into his concerns.

“I think they simply weren’t aware of the issue [and] I have received a positive response from the councillors themselves. They could see the issues and understood something needs to be done.”

Mr Kilsby said it would also be great for local councils such as Grant District Council to be supported from state government in terms of funding to help address such issues.

“It’s definitely a health issue,” he said about the lack of toilet facilities. “It’s very much a health issue.”

District Council of Grant mayor Kylie Boston said while the Little Blue Lake is under the care and control of the council, most of the car park area is Crown land under the care and control of the Department for Environment and Water (DEW).

“Any toilet block at the site would need to be situated on the land controlled by DEW to ensure that waste disposal requirements are assessed as part of a development application,” Ms Boston told news.com.au.

“Consideration will also need to be given to the cost of the infrastructure as there is quite a high continuing cost of maintaining these facilities.

“We understand the Little Blue Lake is very special and we need to take care of it so council will be holding a workshop in the next couple of months to discuss the facilities requested, management and tourism value of the Little Blue and other sinkholes.”