General News
13 June, 2026
Keep, not destroy sheds
CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council is facing strong resistance to a plan that could see a total replacement of the historic main visitor building at Warrina Lakes in Innisfail.
The proposed “concept design” recently put out to the public by council for feedback has resulted in a wide response of questions from the community about the structure, originally built as cattle sheds.
Many want to know why council believes the building needs to be replaced rather than renovated and retained for its historical characteristics.
Among those against demolishing the old “cow sheds” is Allison Parisi, the daughter of a former cane and cattle farmer who built the structure in the early 1970s.
Mrs Parisi has written a passionate letter to council (also a letter to the editor in this issue of The Observer) about why she believes the old building should be kept.
“While I acknowledge my personal connection to this issue, I also believe many members of the community share my concern about the prospect of losing a place that has become an important part of our local identity,” Mrs Parisi writes.
“For many residents, the cow sheds are far more than a collection of timber and iron. They are a landmark with a story deeply woven into local history,” she said.
“Before becoming the much-loved venue they are today, the structures served as part of Romano’s sawmill, once located on the site now occupied by the Barrier Reef Motel.
“They were painstakingly dismantled and relocated by Maurice Robson and his son Bob Robson, who took them apart piece by piece and reassembled them through sheer determination and hard physical labour.
“That achievement alone deserves recognition. In an era before modern machinery became commonplace, such a task required extraordinary effort, skill and commitment,” she said.
In a recent media release, council said the existing building “is ageing and was not designed for long-term public use and presents ongoing safety, compliance and maintenance challenges”.
But Mrs Parisi says for such an important and historic part of Innisfail’s history, council should be looking at ways to preserve the structures rather than demolish them.
“Given that history, it is difficult to understand why demolition has become the preferred option,” she writes.
“Replacing the sheds with a modern structure that serves essentially the same purpose appears to be an expensive solution to a problem that may be addressed through restoration and maintenance.
“If significant public funds are available, many ratepayers would reasonably ask whether preserving an existing and much-loved asset represents better value than replacing it altogether.
“The sheds stand today as a testament, not only to the region’s timber heritage, but also to the dedication of local families who helped build this community.”
Council also said in the May release that its concept design for Warrina Lakes “aims to retain the open, flexible feel of the current building, while improving accessibility, functionality and resilience to tropical weather conditions.”
It also wants to include what it said would be “improved facilities, including a dedicated parents’ room” to support families and make the space more “inclusive”.
But Mrs Parisi has asked council about how it has maintained the structure over the years.
“If the sheds have deteriorated to the point where demolition is now considered necessary, how much of that deterioration could have been prevented through regular upkeep?” she asked.
“I have noted unresolved issues such as a leak in the valley guttering that has been present since my daughter’s wedding at the shed in 2012.”
Council’s consultation over Warrina Lakes closed on 30 May, with council saying via its website that no decisions have been made yet about demolishing the current building and that applications are yet to be made for any state and federal funding.
Read More: Innisfail