Council decides on future removal of Precious Family Reserve toilet

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has decided to remove the existing public toilet at Precious Family Reserve in Ōmokoroa and relocate it elsewhere in the District.

The Council will now investigate options for a new public toilet at the reserve as part of the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan process. The existing toilet will remain in place until a new facility is installed.

The decision was made at yesterday’s Projects and Monitoring Committee meeting, following a four-week survey undertaken by Council, in May-June 2026, seeking feedback on the community’s preferred location of the toilet.

A total of 387 feedback submissions were received, with 80.41 per cent in support of retaining the toilet in its current consented location, 10.57 per cent in support of relocating the toilet within the reserve, and 8.76 per cent in support of removing the toilet and installing it at another suitable loaction in the District.

In making the decision, the Committee also took into consideration previous Council and Committee reports, public forums, meetings with staff, and correspondence.

Following discussion, the Committee decided to take a longer-term approach to the provision of a public toilet at Precious Family Reserve, including further community engagement and consideration of alternative options, resolving to:

a) Direct the Chief Executive to incorporate a future public toilet facility at Precious Family Reserve into the Long Term Plan 2027-2037 consultation.

b) That a subsequent project proposal be presented to the Projects and Monitoring Committee in the 2027/28 Financial Year including assessment of alternative locations, statutory approvals, community engagement costs and environmental effects.

c) That upon the installation of a new toilet, the existing toilet facility at Precious Family Reserve be relocated to a different site elsewhere in the District.

The resolution was carried with six votes in favour – Councillors Allan Sole, Margaret Murray-Benge, Tracey Coxhead, Graeme Elvin, Shane Beech and Laura Rae. Mayor James Denyer and Councillor Grant Dally voted against the resolution, while Councillor Rodney Joyce abstained from voting. Councillor Darlene Dinsdale was absent.

The full discussion and decision can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel, at 2 hours, 35 minutes.