Dunedin could be flush with public toilets if a more than $3 million proposal goes ahead.
Up to 19 new toilets could be constructed before 2033 to meet requests from the public for more facilities and population growth, a report discussed by the Dunedin City Council on Monday said.
The locations of new toilets were yet to be decided, but, alongside the improvement of pre-existing ones, would add $3.05 million to the council’s 10-year plan 2021-31 if approved.
The staff report said population forecasting used to develop the 10-year plan estimated Dunedin’s population would continue to grow, increasing from 130,520 in 2018 to 141,417 in 2033.
There are 65 public toilets in the city at present and to maintain the current ratio of public toilets to residents, an additional six new public toilets would be required by 2033, it said.
Although the report said council staff had not been able to measure whether more public toilet facilities were required in Dunedin, 19 new public toilets had been suggested in response to feedback requesting improvement in the provision of them.
The council heard from disability advocates at its annual plan hearings in May, who requested more toilets, particularly accessible ones, in the city.
As a result, a "Changing Places" bathroom costing $250,000 was also included in the proposal, providing a larger accessible toilet for disabled people having equipment such as hoists, curtains, changing benches and space for carers.
This would be built in the central city in the 2021-22 year following consultation with the disabled community.
A second fully accessible bathroom was included in budgets for the new South Dunedin Library and Community Complex.
Each new public toilet would cost $100,000 and annual operating costs of the new toilets would add up to about $255,000 by the 10th year of the plan.
Cr Marie Laufiso asked why building new toilets was so expensive.
Council property services group manager David Bainbridge-Zafar said it was due to the high standard of build required for a public toilet, as it had to withstand high use and vandalism.
All councillors agreed to note the report.
Feedback on preferred locations for new public toilets would be sought through consultation on the council’s 10-year plan 2021-31 and a timeline for building them will be presented at deliberations in May next year.
