The new structure has been designed to have a long service life and its site has been chosen on higher ground to mitigate the effects of seawater inundation.
The existing toilet block — just 12m away, near the site of the former soundshell — is often hit by surface flooding during high sea-level events.
Flooding was just one of the reasons rebuilding on the existing site was not viable, the Southland District Council said in a statement.
Other reasons to move to the new site included accessible parking being more available and a large stormwater main that could not be built over.
The new site was on the highest point in the immediate area and within the boundary of the council-owned reserve, and it supported the future development of the playground as part of the wider Taramea Bay redevelopment.
The new structure will have quite a compact footprint, being 6.76m wide, 6m long (with a shower block adding an extra 2m on one side) and around 3m high at the highest points of its curved roof.
A nearby business owner objected to the new site but building elsewhere would have added $40,000 to an already expensive project, so the Southland District Council and the Oraka Aparima Community Board decided to go with this plan.
At the projected cost of more than $620,000, this facility will be one of the most expensive toilets the Southland District Council has built. Since the proposal was first put forward more than three years ago, the price has risen by over $200,000.
A huge contributing factor is a 45% increase in the price of construction materials in the past two years.
Oraka Aparima Community Board chairman chairman Michael Weusten said the new shower/toilet building was the best, most fiscally responsible option that can be taken.
"This new amenity will prove to be a huge asset to growing the use of the Taramea Bay playground, especially once the redevelopment of the expanded playground is completed."
