The people of Mt Wilson are pleading for permanent extra toilets.
The normally sleepy village has only 62 permanent residents, but it can host an extra 15,000 tourists in one weekend when conditions are perfect.
For four years the Mt Wilson Progress Association has been campaigning for permanent extra public toilets to cope with the overwhelming tourist numbers, especially through the popular autumn tourist season.
Now there are concerns about the health impacts.
Mt Wilson resident and retired doctor, Dr Lorraine Barrett, said: "In my opinion as a GP (retired) but with more than 40 years experience, they are a significant public health issue.
"We have insufficient toilets and those we do have are filthy ... described by one visitor as un-enterable.
"The facilties generally have no facility for hand washing. The possibility of serious illness cannot continue to be ignored by council. Gastroenteritis, giardiasis, hepatitis A and B are only a few of the health issues that can result. This is made even more likely by contamination of the ground water by desperate visitors using the bush and streets as a public convenience."
Dr Barrett added "the Health Department should be involved to push the changes needed to resolve this problem".
Earlier this month, the Mt Wilson Progress Association committee wrote to all three Ward 1 councillors advising that in previous weeks the "extraordinary number of visitors" had caused the limited public toilet facilities to be "completely overwhelmed ... every year the autumn visitors keep growing in number".
Association president Nancy Fox said: "When confronted with the state of the toilets many opt to 'go' elsewhere, causing tissue paper and worse to be found along our walking trails, through our bush and gardens."
Previously, council had responded to concerns, supplying portaloos and additional bins at the Cathedral of Ferns Reserve and the village centre for their autumn festival.
They also boosted staff to cope with the cleaning. Ms Fox said the association has "complained to council loudly for many years".
"The issue never seems to get properly resolved. Council has provided portaloos at peak times. However, such supply has been ad hoc and insufficient," she said.
Two Ward 1 councillors - Kerry Brown and Kevin Schreiber - were raising the issue at last night's council meeting. They said a commitment was needed for more permanent toilets at key sites. They also asked that current toilets be upgraded with more regular cleaning, especially on busy long weekends, and that there be an agreed schedule for portaloos.
There are currently 11 toilets at Silva Plana, the fire station, Founders Corner and Cathedral and Waterfall Reserves, but some are locked or not flushing and all require pumping out or are long drops.
"Mt Wilson toilets have been an ongoing issue this term and before," Cr Brown said. "Mt Wilson still has human poo in the bush, parks and verges and loos described as 'beyond disgusting'. We can't keep being surprised. We need to start planning with adequate facilities and servicing to meet demand."
Cr Schreiber said, "It is a fact that every autumn and spring Mt Wilson toilets are overrun with visitors and do not cope. It is time for council to pull its weight. People's health needs to be top priority."
Ms Fox said Mt Wilson ratepayers "have every right to expect that something as basic and as essential as public toilets will be provided, maintained and cleaned".
UPDATE
Council will consult with Mt Wilson residents over toilet issues in the village. Councillors voted unanimously at last week's meeting to look at:
Increased pump outs and cleaning of public toilets, including an all-day cleaning service during the peak periods; provision of an agreed number of portaloos during peak seasons; and maintenance and upgrade of existing toilets to meet public health standards and community expectations including hand washing facilities.
