Council developing plan to address issues plaguing Gisborne’s public toilet network

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Gisborne’s network of public toilets is at a “critical juncture” according to a Gisborne District Council report, which has identified nearly half are overdue for renewal.

The council is now developing a special plan to address issues plaguing the network, including resilience, affordability, accessibility and serviceability.

It estimates between $6.3 million and $8.4 million is needed over the next 10 years to provide a suitable service.

Last week, liveable spaces asset planner Angela Newman spoke with councillors about the urgent work that needed to be undertaken.

“Our council owns a large network of public toilets. They are spread over a wide geographical area,” she said.

“During the course of this work we’ve identified a range of challenges with these toilets, one of the main ones being that we have significantly ageing infrastructure.”

The report identified maintenance costs had more than doubled in the past 10 years.

It warned of a risk of widespread failures to the existing network, which would prove unaffordable for ratepayers.

Although public toilets had an “expected useful life” of 25 years, those owned by the council were on average 28 years old.

A total of 24 facilities, or 45 percent, were overdue for renewal.

Eighteen needed renewal within the next 15 years, and another 11 required replacement within the following 15 years.

Ageing infrastructure had led to design flaws including unsustainable water and septic systems, high maintenance costs and vulnerability to extreme weather.

Other issues flagged included environmental sustainability and a failure to meet gender inclusivity standards.

“It is evident that substantial investments will be needed over the next decade and beyond,” the report said.

One recommendation for alleviating the issue was to reduce the number of toilets in the network, while maintaining fewer sites to a higher standard.

Next steps for the council include engaging with tangata whenua and finalising recommendations later this year, before bringing a plan to the council in early 2024 for adoption.