The Dunedin City Council will reconsider plans to build a 24-hour public toilet in Harrop St, next to the Octagon, after concerns were raised about the site - and the process - on Friday.
The council had included $200,000 in the pre-draft long-term plan to build a 24-hour Octagon toilet in 2015-16.
Yesterday, it was confirmed council staff were developing plans to build the toilet in Harrop St, between the Octagon and Moray Pl.
That worried Cr David Benson-Pope, who questioned the merit of building a toilet outside the entrance to the Glenroy Auditorium and next to the recently-refurbished Dunedin Town Hall.
He was not a councillor when the site was selected, but asked whether anyone shared his ''reservation'' about the decision.
Council city property assistant manager Rhonda Abercrombie said the site was selected based on ''general consensus'' at a council workshop several years ago.
Building on the Harrop St site was based on that ''decision'', she said.
Then, as Cr Benson-Pope asked for the decision to be revisited, Mayor Dave Cull said no decisions were made at workshops, so it must have been made at a subsequent council meeting.
Cr Jinty MacTavish was not convinced, saying she could not recall that, and asked for it to be checked.
After the lunch break, Mr Cull said there was no record of any report to the council, or any decision being made.
Most councillors then supported a resolution suggested by Cr Benson-Pope that the Harrop St site be reconsidered and a fresh report prepared.
Council city property manager Kevin Taylor said that would take about six months, although the extra cost involved was not yet known.
Mrs Abercrombie said another suitable council-owned site was available in the area, and council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose said a subsequent report would detail any additional costs arising from a switch.
Mr Cull said a site was available in Municipal Lane, and could be considered ''quite quickly''.
''I'm concerned about the delay, but it's clear there are issues around Harrop St about safety and proximity to the Glenroy.''
