Toilet art garners respect of vandals

Council's Mark Alsop and artist Earnest Bradley say murals on public loos serve a dual purpose. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Once designed to blend into the landscape, Whangarei's new approach to public toilets is turning heads.

The much-anticipated toilet block on the Hatea Loop beside Te Matau A Pohe, painted by artist Earnest Bradley, was one of two to open in the lead-up to Christmas.

Mr Bradley said as he painted so many bypassers commented on his work he ended up listening to music so he could focus.

A close-up of some of the artwork.

"The feedback was definitely more than expected ... I was really glad to be able to do something for the public," he said.

The striking art joined six other art-clad loos across the district, including one which opened the same day at Onerahi skate park.

Whangarei District Council field officer Grant Alsop spends more time than most contemplating toilets and said the murals were a "win/win".

"Since I took over [toilets] in 2008 it was something I wanted to do to minimise the vandalism and tagging.

"It's something I'm very passionate about," he said.

With toilets regularly getting tagged or vandalised the new Exeloo block, installed for $110,000, was one of the more durable products on the market.

"They've got it down pat. They're very well received, disability friendly and very robust," he said. "It needs to be something that will put up with delinquents. Unfortunately a lot of my job is fixing things up after someone's trashed them."

The toilets would be cleaned daily and open from 4.30am to 11pm, to cater for early-morning and late-night loop walkers.

Mr Alsop said "a lot" of money was being saved as a result of murals like Mr Bradley's, which were protected with graffiti guard.

"They bring a bit of colour to the block and minimise the tagging. Taggers definitely seem to respect artwork," Mr Alsop said.