A lack of female-only, closed door public showers at a popular Sunshine Coast beach has prompted a Muslim organisation to call for councils to consider religious beliefs when designing infrastructure after a family used the amenities at a members-only surf club without permission.

The Muslim family were holidaying at Coolum Beach when they used the surf club's members-only private showers because there were no female-only public amenities to wash off in private, sparking a difficult conversation between the family and a Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club patrol captain.

The patrol captain, who asked to remain anonymous, said the family were using the private showers, in the fenced off surf club area, during the busy holiday period as they had nowhere else to go.

"I found them in the members-only showers and tried to explain to them they weren't allowed to shower there," the lifesaver said.

"They said they didn't have a choice as there was nowhere for them to shower in a female-only shower in private.

The Sunshine Coast Council said the showers at Coolum were "located externally to maximise the internal footprint". ( ABC News: Kathy Sundstrom )

"The Sunshine Coast Council upgraded the public toilet block a few years ago and built a new toilet block which no longer had showers behind closed doors and the toilets also became unisex."

The Sunshine Coast Council said the showers at Coolum were "located externally to maximise the internal footprint of the public amenity for toilets, changing facilities and hand washing".

"Another consideration is maintenance costs — indoor beach showers are more likely to create significant maintenance issues and expense due to sand blocking the drainage and the resulting requirement for plumbing works," the spokeswoman said.

The council said the public showers were designed according to the required legislation.

However, a spokesperson for Muslim Organisation Sunshine Coast (MOSC) said the council needed to consider the region's growing Muslim population when designing infrastructure that may make it difficult for women to observe their beliefs.

"Muslim women would dress modestly, often covering their heads with a scarf as well, and it would be quite challenging and confronting for them to use a public shower facility, especially one where there is no segregation and they cannot fully dress in private before venturing out again," the spokesperson said.

"This, however, does not become an excuse to bend any laws.

"With a growing Muslim population, it would be appropriate that the local government takes into account the needs of its citizens and take input before building such facilities to ensure that it can easily cater to all walks."

The MOSC spokesperson said the organisation had around 300 members and numbers had grown significantly in the last five years.

The council said there were other public shower facilities across the Sunshine Coast which had separate female showers with doors to cubicles.

The unisex public toilets at Coolum beach have also come under fire after a four-year-old girl was indecently assaulted at the toilet blocks at Tickle Park two weeks ago.