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A toilet block built in Silverdale Village in 1985 was recently refurbished by Auckland Council but the newly built interior has not gone down well with some users.
Several locals took to social media and contacted Hibiscus Matters after visiting the toilets – complaints included that the two doors open awkwardly into each other, that two toilets is insufficient and that one cubicle is so small that “when you are sitting on it, your bottom touches the sanitary bin”.
With proper hand washing and drying such a focus at present, some noted that that there is no paper or hand dryer provided and the water for hand washing is “just a trickle”.
Shortly after the new toilets opened, in January, the baby changing table had already come loose from the wall.
“A total waste of ratepayer money” was the common theme.
The renewal of the toilets came from the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board’s budget and cost $227,917.
Council head of area operations, Julie Pickering, says when the block was assessed a year ago is was found to be “in average to poor condition, proportionate to its age”. It was also non-compliant when it came to disabled access.
Making the disabled toilet large enough to be compliant meant reducing the size of the other cubicle.
“To accommodate the increase in size for the accessible toilet, the regular cubicle in the female toilet has been reduced to 800mm wide, which is smaller than it was, but still compliant,” Pickering says.
Ongoing vandalism was behind the decision to replace the partitions between the toilets with block walls.
“While this has impacted the size of the cubicles, they still maintain a standard opening and the more robust walls will reduce ongoing maintenance costs relating to vandalism.”
Vandalism was also a factor in the handwashing facilities, which Pickering says meet the Council’s minimum requirements.
“Due to the previous hand dryers being vandalised on multiple occasions, the decision was made not to replace them at this time. However, power outlets have been installed should the decision be made to install them in future.”
“The plans for the toilet were shared with the Silverdale Business Association prior to construction, and a walkthrough prior to works commencing was organised. The Business Association was in support of the plans,” Pickering says.
