Young activists are demanding the Central Otago District Council install a public toilet in Tarras.
At a council meeting in Alexandra yesterday, it committed $255,000 in its 2016-17 annual plan towards finding a solution.
The council opened the Tarras Hall toilets to the public from December to February for the busy summer period.
Tarras School had problems with travellers relieving themselves on school grounds and installed a portable toilet with a donation box outside the school.
The council has funded the toilet since May.
It has considered partnering with local businesses to share the cost of a public toilet.
Tarras School pupil K'Dence Harrison (10) said this was not the answer.
‘‘I believe the council should own toilets in Tarras and pay for the upkeep of the toilets.''
‘‘How would the council share the partnership costs when some businesses earn more money than others?
‘‘I would like you to answer my questions carefully. If you find it difficult to answer them, then a partnership is not the answer.''
Another pupil, Jack Willson (12), said people sometimes urinated in the school grounds, which was ‘‘disgusting''.
He was joined by pupil Billie Willson (10) who said the things they had to witness were ‘‘unbelievable''.
‘‘Lots of people come here and with no toilet facility this is a huge drama.''
Principal Karen Blue said initially the children had to be banned from sitting in shaded areas during the summer because of excrement left behind by visitors.
‘‘It was not unusual to have up to a dozen people each day coming into our school grounds to relieve themselves.''
The school was told the council would fund the portable toilet until June 30, but she wondered what would happen after that.
Cr Shirley Calvert said the council would not leave the school ‘‘high and dry''.
Mayor Tony Lepper said the solution would need to involve a partnership with businesses, as it did not own any land in Tarras.
‘‘They have an obligation to provide their customers with toilets.''
The council would approach the Government for additional funding, he said.
Council infrastructure services manager Julie Muir said the New Zealand Transport Agency would be asked about installing a toilet in the car park it owns outside the shops.
Cr Barrie Wills said the problem needed to be sorted.
‘‘Good on you for speaking up.''
