More toilets for Eketahuna camping ground

The growing popularity of the Eketahuna Camping Ground has seen the Tararua District Council bring forward capital spending at the ground to provide more toilets.

Eketahuna's camping ground has a great reputation, with visitors enjoying their time so much they tend to stay a while and visit tourist spots around the region.

Now there will be more comfort too, with the increasing number of people staying at the camping ground less likely to be caught short as the Tararua District Council has agreed to provide more toilets.

Earlier this year councillors were told holidaymakers wanted loos before beds or showers and while council had made provision for $52,000 in the 2017/18 budget to build two additional cabins, campground operators Loreen and Kerry Cunningham wanted toilets first because the current three toilet-shower units aren't enough.

"The showers and the toilets are together and we've got people waiting outside needing to go to the toilet, so it's a bit of a problem," Mrs Cunningham said.

Richard Taylor, council's governance manager, said with the camping ground attracting a lot of visitors to the district, the Cunninghams want the toilet project advanced quickly.

Councillor Jim Crispin said he was happy to recommend the toilet project which he saw as essential for Eketahuna and deputy mayor Allan Benbow urged councillors to bring the project forward.

Councillors agreed to bring forward the existing funding provision of $52,000 from the 2017/18 year to the current financial year and provide two new toilets which will be connected to Eketahuna's Stanley St sewage main.

And while Mr Benbow also asked if there was an option of considering new cabins as well as the toilets, councillor Shirley Hull said there are more campers with small tents making use of the camping ground.

"A lot of cyclists with pup tents buzz in and out and the cabins aren't so pressured now. But the need for toilets is essential," she said.

Mr Taylor said council will be revisting their capital project list and councillors will have the option to consider anything over and above the immediate need for more toilets in their long term plan.

In the meantime while there is a wee wait for the new toilets, two portaloos have been installed at the camping ground as a temporary measure, project manager Peter Sinclair said.

"When I visited the camping ground late last week it was extremely busy," he said.

And it seems small things make a big difference at the Eketahuna Camping Ground. The operators provide a herb garden with most overseas visitors picking a herb or two.

"It's a good talking point," Mrs Cunningham said.

The camp ground has scored well with Tripadvisor visitors too who have given it excellent ratings. Most comments describe the campground as "magical and beautiful".

* In October 84 campground visitors in Eketahuna used a power site, 45 Kiwis and 39 from overseas.

* 28 people occupied cabins and 100 people unpowered sites.