Church continues opposition to toilet

A proposal to site a public toilet near the entrance to a spiritualist church is ‘‘tantamount to sacrilege'', the church says, in a dispute that is giving no signs of relief to South Dunedin shoppers.

The Dunedin Spiritualist Church and the Dunedin City Council have been unable to find consensus that would allow the siting of a long-awaited Exeloo in Lorne St, an issue both councillors and retailers are keen to see resolved.

The council has been looking for a site for a public toilet for about three years.

A report by special projects officer Greg Sligo said Lorne St, off King Edward St, was identified as a preferred site for the toilet, but nearby banks had security concerns, and staff from the banks used benches, near where the toilet would be located, during lunch breaks.

The northeast end of the street became the preferred site, but the church objected both because it was culturally offensive, and because of concerns about vandalism and inappropriate behaviour.

An application for resource consent was lodged last June, but the council discovered it did not need a notified consent as it initially advised the church, and consent was subsequently granted as a controlled activity.

The council's customer advocate, Adrian Blair, was reviewing the process.

The report said an option of locating the toilet in the Rankeilor St car park had disadvantages, as it would have to be locked at night, and would not be in clear view of King Edward St. The option was opposed by the South Dunedin Business Association.

Association president Kelvin Williams told the committee members of the public were constantly asking businesses for use of their facilities.

Lorne St was the best site for the toilet, which was needed by a mostly elderly population.

But church representative Fred Haslam said he wanted the toilet to be sited in the car park.

Mr Haslam complained about what he called the ‘‘dishonourable way'' council staff had acted, and said documents he had sent to Mayor Peter Chin had not reached him.

He told the committee having a toilet near the entrance to the church was culturally inappropriate.

Asked by Cr Fliss Butcher to explain that statement, when there were toilets in the church, he said toilets were necessary in the church.

A supporter told the committee the entrance was a sacred area.

Cr Kate Wilson said, as a woman, she would not be keen to use the toilet at the end of Lorne St, because of safety concerns.

The committee voted to let the matter lie on the table until the next planning and environment meeting on June 9, by which time Mr Blair's review would be completed.

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