The news spread like wildfire through the Crowdy Head Environment and Cultural Centre Working Group as members Joan Hall, Daintry Gerrand and Ian Sandercoe learned that a truck had visited the former Crowdy Head Public School site and taken its toilet block.

"It was totally unexpected," said Joan.

"It's very disappointing," said Daintry.

"It's all very stealth-like," said Ian.

Crowdy Head is a very small coastal community and the arrival of a large truck on its streets does not go unnoticed.

A local resident watched the activity on July 27 and used a phone to capture an image of the old toilet block being transported by truck from the old school site. It was quickly shared with members of the group and shared with the Manning River Times.

The removal of the toilet block "without notice and without consultation" shocked Daintry as it was the focus of specific representations made to member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams.

Daintry says that in May the working group "specifically raised the issue that the retention of the toilet block was important to the functioning of the facility for events and activities" in emails to Mrs Williams.

Emails about the future of the site also hit the inbox of Warren Blissett, the Department of Education asset management unit group leader, and he noted that Daintry had written to Mrs Williams and so replied, "I note your correspondence to Leslie Williams MP regarding this matter. The local member will provide you with a response to your queries."

According to Daintry, no response from Mrs Williams was forthcoming about the toilet block. "This has not happened and now the toilet block has gone."

"Leslie Williams hasn't done anything for us on the matter," Daintry said. "The only thing we have received is a letter saying that she's referred the matter to the Minister for Education."

"We wanted to have a conversation about the options; now the toilet block is gone. It immediately limits the possibilities for the use of the site."

Daintry cites correspondence to Mrs Williams in May as proof the working group had flagged the importance of the toilet block in planning for a future use of the site.

The correspondence to Mrs Williams stated "the potential for retention of the toilet block on the site is important, bearing in mind that the removal of the toilet block would cost the department and that it is an old facility and that it would be important for workers onsite and participants at education events we would like to host."

Daintry also contends "there is a lack of process or communication of the process to the community.

"We have been trying so hard to work out the process to get a licence to use the site, to maintain the site and to learn who will own the site. There is a lack of clarity in relation to the process," she said.

"We will now write direct to the NSW Premier to seek advice because we have had no support or response from Leslie Williams on this issue and we feel our chances will be better served by the direct approach."

Joan Hall is no stranger to lobbying politicians for support, action and information on issues that impact residents in the Harrington and Crowdy Head communities. As secretary of the Harrington Community Action Group, she was instrumental in alerting the broader community to the pending closure of the small school and lobbied to get Mrs Williams to attend a public meeting to discuss the future use of the school site in February.

More than 50 people attended the meeting at Crowdy Head Surf Club to give voice to their concerns and at that time Mrs Williams said she had made representations to the Minister for Education and Minister for Crown Lands about the future use of the site and that "both are members of the National Paty, so I know them very well."

Joan confirms the working group has had no response from Mrs Williams and says the removal of the toilet block "was totally unexpected."

"The loos are gone. They've taken the toilets and that will definitely impact on the options for the future use of the site," Joan said.

Ian Sandercoe sees a surf school as a viable future use of the site and says the working group is talking with Surfing NSW and the Taree Purfleet Aboriginal Land Council. The site is also the subject of an Aboriginal land claim.

"It's all very stealth-like. I guess it means someone is making decisions and maybe it means the site will be transferred to the Crown lands department," Ian said.

"We just don't know," he added.

The member for Port Macquarie was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.

RELATED STORY: Crowdy Head community outlines issues to State MP

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