Toilets and tourism: the two go together.

And the Timaru District Council has agreed to look at the standard it requires for its public toilets as a result of a submission to its long term plan from Aoraki Development Business and Tourism.

Public toilets can leave the visitor with quite an impression of the district, ADBT board chairman Ken McKenzie told councillors.

That was especially the case if the visitor was on a bus and their only experience of the district was stopping for something to eat and to use a public toilet.

ADBT chief executive Wendy Smith agreed, adding public toilets could have "quite a significant role in promoting a district".

Asked by Mayor Janie Annear whether the council's toilets needed replacing or simply upgrading, Mrs Smith suggested repainting and "refreshing" would probably be sufficient.

Mrs Annear explained toilets throughout the district did meet the council's present standards, but she wondered whether there was a need for the council to lift the standard.

She said it was possible the public now expected a higher standard. Councillors agreed, and the issue will be looked at.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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