From portaloo to $200k toilet

SPENDING A PENNY TO SPEND A PENNY: Tokomaru Bay Wharf is growing in popularity for visitors. However, for those needing to go to the loo, a grotty portaloo has been the only option. Not for too much longer as a grant of $200,000 from the Tourism Infrastructure will be used to build toilet facilities. Picture by Liam Clayton

Visitors who head up the East Coast to experience the heritage of the old wharf at Tokomaru Bay will not have to put up with an “embarrassing” portaloo.

Plans for a new toilet facility are under way. The project is being overseen by Gisborne District Council and has received a government grant of about $200,000 from the Tourism Infrastructure fund.

“It will be a wonderful addition for the wharf area,” Tokomaru Bay Heritage Trust's Andy Jefferd said.

The project was “long overdue” and had come after years of resident lobbying to have a “decent” toilet.

Mr Jefferd said it would “hugely” benefit the community and the visitors who came to the wharf for recreational purposes.

“The people living down here have noticed quite an increase in visitors over the past 18 months, partly because people not being able to travel overseas due to Covid-19,” he said.

Civil Assist Limited worker Zaria Weatherhead said the company was being contracted by the council for the installation of a “double bay” toilet block.

Initial plans were to build a “waterless toilet” but after taking in community consideration, the council decided to stick to the “regular” model of a flush loo.

It would be a significant upgrade from an already existing portaloo abandoned by the community due to its deteriorating condition.

Waima resident Julie Gould said after looking at the state of the portaloo several visitors had asked the locals if they could have access to any other public loos in the area.

“If you open the door of the toilet at anytime, there is paper all over the place and it is always messy.

“With the increasing amount of tourists and people coming, it's about time we had a good one,” she said.

Another resident, Baye Riddell, said it was embarrassing when tourists visited the place to experience the heritage of the wharf and then only found a portaloo.

“To see it finally coming to fruition is great,” he said.

Ms Weatherhead said depending on building and resource consents, the project was most likely to be completed by February 2022.