Dannevirke: Vanishing loos put council in doo-doo

The Portaloo in Dannevirke's upper Domain, put in place after the public toilets at the end of the grandstand were closed because of vandalism. Photo / Christine McKay

A new loo for Dannevirke's upper Domain caused a stink at a Tararua District Council meeting.

The council recently closed the vandalised public toilets at the end of the grandstand, forcing people to find somewhere else "to go," with many choosing the Domain's gardens.

"People would disappear into the bushes," Kathy Dever-Tod, the council's assets group manager told last Wednesday's meeting.

"Our contract staff had to deal with urine and excrement in the gardens. And for our contractors on site, morale was low when they had to tell people no, there are no toilets' a number of times during the day. So quite clearly there is a need."

Tararua District Mayor Roly Ellis said the state of the old toilets was a disgrace.

"They were an absolute nightmare, with graffiti and young people in there doing what they shouldn't and we couldn't put a CCTV security camera inside," he said. "We had a problem and there's no denying it."

To cope with demand, the council placed a Portaloo at the upper Domain but now councillors are calling for public consultation before a permanent replacement is made.

Council chief executive Blair King said: "We initially didn't put in a temporary toilet, but our contractors raised health and safety issues because they were having to deal with human waste in the Domain's gardens.

"The Portaloo isn't a good look and I'd like to have a solution before Anzac Day."

However, southern councillor Shirley Hull queried why a replacement toilet was needed when there were a number within four or five minutes' walking distance of each other.

But Mr King pointed out that all except one, the Exeloo further down High St, were attached to businesses.

"The service stations and fast food outlet toilets are not public toilets," he said. "And if you've got children, you don't have much time when they decide they want to go. Sometimes there's not even enough time to get to the car, let alone to the public toilet alongside the Town Hall."

Mr King warned councillors considering voting against a replacement toilet of the dilemma that decision would put the council in.

"You need to have a clear rationale for changing that expected level of service," he said. "There's obviously a clear need for a toilet at Dannevirke's upper Domain."

Eketahuna councillor Warren Davidson said he was not in favour of replacing the toilets.

"If people are going to destroy the facility, why replace it?

"I certainly don't support the recommendation to go ahead, but I don't have any problem with this going to public consultation."

However, Ms Dever-Tod said part of the council's promotion of Dannevirke was to encourage visitors to stop at the upper Domain playground. Deputy mayor Bill Keltie agreed people needed a place "to go".

"You can't have people going to the toilet in behind the trees and having people having to pick it up," he said.

Mr Ellis also warned councillors it would not be good look for council if a new toilet block was not erected.

But the Portaloo would not be an acceptable option come Anzac Day, said Mr Ellis, who is also president of the Dannevirke RSA.

Although there is no specific consultation required for the provision of public toilets in the upper Domain, Ms Dever-Tod said it was a matter of public interest and the council will include it in the draft long term plan for this year.