Public toilet to be at Swarbricks Landing

Photo / Thinkstock

A new public toilet with a drinking fountain for people and dogs will be installed at Swarbricks Landing in Hamilton after the public dismissed suggestions to have it at nearby Days Park.

Calls from some councillors to ditch the idea because of council constraints and concerns it would encourage freedom campers were overridden 9-3 at yesterday's operations and activity performance committee.

The council received a flurry of submissions over the original proposal to have it in a prominent place at the popular dog park within 10m of a plaque recognising Eric Day who gifted a large portion of the park to the city in 1957. The main concerns were around location, safety and cost.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker said she could not support spending the $96,800 because of the council's financial constraints and given it had dismissed concerns raised by the Council of Elders over substandard toilets at Hamilton Lake.

Councillor Margaret Forsyth agreed it was not the right time and Roger Hennebry raised concerns about freedom campers.

But councillor Pippa Mahood argued it should be built while it was in the budget.

"If we don't put it in now, it will be years in my opinion."

Hamilton City Council parks and gardens manager Sally Sheedy said although some money could be saved by removing the drinking fountain for dogs, it would serve as a drinking fountain for people too.

The Swarbricks Landing option has come well under the $160,000 set aside in the 2011/12 annual plan.