General News
4 October, 2026
Fresh hope for ‘sheds’
COMMUNITY advocates with strong links to the historic Warrina Lakes ‘cow sheds’ in Innisfail have been given fresh hope after Cassowary Coast Regional Council voted to establish a dedicated ‘stakeholder reference group’.
The decision gives residents and user groups a direct voice in shaping a renewal strategy for the cherished open-air structure.
The move follows an intense campaign led by principal petitioner Jean McMillan and co-organiser Allison Parisi.
A petition lodged in July gathered over 1500 signatures across local shops, community clubs and the annual Innisfail Show.
It called on council to abandon demolition plans and instead restore the sheds alongside upgraded kitchen and toilet facilities.
Rebuilt in the 1970s by local builders Maurice Robson and his son Bob, the timber structures hold deep historical value and remain a popular community hub, hosting events such as free seniors’ exercise classes run by Ms McMillan.
Advocates argue the open-air layout provides essential airflow and fits the park’s natural heritage.
While technical assessments noted structural deficiencies and non-compliance with modern cyclone standards, residents point to the building’s survival through major cyclones as proof of its underlying durability.
Under the adopted recommendation, chief executive officer Andrew Graffen will oversee the formation of the reference group to help guide council’s final verdict.
Community input will be combined with upcoming engineering, risk mitigation and financial reports.
Ms McMillan, who plans to seek a seat on the new panel to keep pressure on decision-makers, remains sceptical of council’s long-term intentions and fears demolition is still the ultimate goal.
“I’ll be asking council to compare the exact costs of a new building versus refurbishing the old one,” Ms McMillan told The Observer.
“They claim they’ve done the numbers, but where are the price comparisons? And are they actually going to maintain it?
“They have a terrible tendency to build things and neglect them. Look at the riverfront – no maintenance has gone into that in the 28 years I’ve lived here.”
Ms McMillan also rejected claims that the structure’s failure to meet current building codes makes it unsafe.
“It might not be to current code, but it’s withstood countless cyclones,” she said. “My own house wasn’t built to modern code either and it survived.
“These sheds were built for strength, not for ‘pretty’. If they do insist on something new, let’s see the design and strip back unnecessary costs.
“Keep it simple and keep it plain – there are plenty of other buildings people can hire.”
Read More: Innisfail