When people step out into nature sometimes they need to…well… heed the call of nature, and we don’t mean listen to bird songs!

Humans love nature; nature restores us, clears the clutter in our heads, nurtures our soul and blows out the cobwebs with sights and sounds that normally get drowned out by work and life commitments. Sunsets without street lights and beautiful views uninterrupted by mobile phone towers – a dose of nature is the best form of digital detox.

Yet, even when we try to travel lightly, we usually need to leave a little something behind. And every dump taken in the bush risks turning the bush into a dump!

At the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC), we raise money to protect nature – looking after Tasmania’s unique natural places, rare ecosystems, and habitat for threatened plants and animals - on our own reserves and with private landholders. We have protected over 60,000 hectares of land since 2001, from the rugged mountain tops to our beautiful beaches.

One of the jewels in the TLC crown, and part of the Wilderness World Heritage Area, Skullbone Plains Reserve is nestled amongst mountains and lakes in the remote Tasmanian highlands. In 2010, the TLC protected this special place forever to safeguard Skullbone Plains’ unique and delicate landscape - home to endangered species like Tasmanian devils, Clarence galaxias fish and magnificent wedge-tailed eagles – so it stays wild and unspoiled.

To put it bluntly, people just need to poo, and while that’s all very natural, in a sensitive environment it’s not good form to dig holes and leave your business throughout a protected area. As for the bog roll, it just doesn’t belong in our endangered sphagnum bogs!

We want more people to experience Skullbone Plains, without leaving a smelly legacy.

The Goal

Imagine sitting on the Skullbone throne looking out over the sprawling plains, with majestic cider gums guarding the intricate marshes and wetlands, delicate cushion plants and moss beds. Wildflowers of all colours are in full bloom and the resident eagles are patrolling overhead. What an incredible moment to enjoy a Loo With a View, knowing that you helped keep this special place wild for many more to experience.

We have the solution. With your help, we will use the funds to build a loo with a breathtaking view. We will install a waterless pod design based toilet, which is good for the environment, uses no water, has minimal odour and is low maintenance.

Your support of this project will allow us to buy, design, build and install the Loo With a View, so we can provide a solution to our stinky dilemma.

We are pitching in to, the funds will leverage significant in-kind contributions from dedicated TLC staff and our highly skilled and committed volunteers throughout the process.

The money the TLC raises goes into conserving more land, so we don’t have the necessary funds to build the infrastructure required for visitors. The TLC’s reserves are amazing places and we would love our friends and supporters to experience them. But we also need to safeguard the nature that makes it so special.

To help tell the story of the Loo With a View, Tasmanian artist and nature lover Josh Pringle has created some unique Skullbone Plains inspired artworks. As Josh puts it, “I draw pictures, make things and go on adventures. I'm from Tasmania.” Josh’s charismatic Tasmaniana inspired sketches depict the simplicity and complexity of the Tasmanian bush simultaneously. 

They evoke memories of times spent in the wilds and cultivate day dreams of future adventures. Josh has generously donated his talents to make the Loo With a View a reality. Whatever you choose to cough up, big or small, we have a unique Josh Pringle piece of art for you to remember that amazing Loo With a View.   

So go on… leave a deposit, drop a load of cash, log on and make a contribution to the Loo With a View.

Photos

In order of appearance;

Skullbone Plains and adjoining Wilderness World Heritage Area (Matthew Newton)

Kenneth Lagoon Skullbone Plains (Rob Blakers)

Sunrise on Skullbone Plains (Rob Blakers)

Wedge-tailed eagle - Aquila audax fleayi (Andy Townsend)