Purakaunui resident Peter Laing outlined his concerns about the Purakaunui Amenities Society’s plan at a Chalmers Community Board meeting on Wednesday, saying not enough evidence had been produced to support the plan.
However, the society’s president, Jude Newton, said 77.5% of residents who responded to a thorough survey on the issue supported having a toilet.
The toilet would be for both residents and visitors, who at the moment faced having to go all the way to Long Beach if they needed toilet facilities, she said.
It would be a shame if people were put off visiting the area because there was no toilet.
"It’s a beautiful spot and it’s nice to be able to share it with visitors."
She did not believe having a toilet would create a freedom camping issue as non-self-contained campers would still be prohibited from the area.
A final decision about the toilet was yet to be made, but the society hoped to trial a portable toilet this summer.
Mr Laing said the "nub of the issue" was that providing a toilet would encourage freedom campers to come to the area, risking a repeat of the "uncontrollable shambles" experienced at other locations.
There was not enough space for freedom campers and the narrow, winding and steep roads around the area were difficult for tourists to navigate, he said, citing a "near miss" he and his wife had with a tourist driving on the wrong side of the road.
Based on 20 years working as an accommodation provider, he believed freedom campers were "not particularly good tourists", and there was no reason why facilities should be provided for them free of charge.
The society’s survey was "fundamentally flawed" as some residents had not being questioned, and he called for a new survey, of ratepayers, to be held.
No evidence, photographic or otherwise, had been produced of people fouling at Mouats Bay or any other part of Purakaunui.
Cr Andrew Noone, who is a member of the community board and was at an earlier meeting at Purakaunui School where the issue was discussed, said the plan for a toilet was being led by the society and not the council.
Funding would come from the community, but if it went ahead the council would consider taking over the facility and providing maintenance, Cr Noone said.
