Loos to be upgraded

4 November 2013

Four toilets blocks around the Waipa district will be spruced up in time for Christmas.

Work begins this week on refurbishing the public toilets at Bulmer's Landing at Arapuni. The toilet block has been heavily vandalised over recent months with partitions and hand basins damaged or in some cases, stolen.

Waipa District Council community facilities contracts officer Rob Sinclair said the Bulmer's Landing loo was also covered in graffiti but would be as good as new following a paint job and the installation of new fittings and fixtures.

Other toilet blocks in line for a makeover were the Walton Street toilets in Te Awamutu, Lyon Street toilets in Kihikihi and the Milicich Place toilets in Cambridge. The total cost of refurbishment is around $50,000.

Waipa District Council refurbishes or replaces some toilet facilities across the district each year as part of its ongoing renewals programme. Toilets are upgraded and prioritised depending on how much use they get as well as other factors. Mr Sinclair estimated that breakages and vandalism at the toilets cost ratepayers between $10,000 - $15,000 each year.

We make things as strong and as sturdy as possible to deter vandals and try to keep a close eye on facilities, he said.

Anyone seeing vandals in action should contact the police, he said. Damage to toilet facilities should be reported to council.

ends

For more information contact:

Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council) 027 5077 599