Thames primary school students are being asked to use their creativity to transform the new toilet block in Porritt Park from drab to fab.

With construction to start in the next fortnight, the Thames Community Board and Guild of Public Artists invites students to contribute to a mural covering the park-facing wall of the toilet block.

This construction will include a hard landscaping plaza around the new toilet area, and work will continue over September. The old toilet will continue to be in use until we open the new one.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council says while construction progresses on site, back in the schools, the art will be taking shape.

'Primary school students will submit designs to be judged and the selected designs will be painted by the students onto large panels to be installed on the toilet block wall.”

Local Thames mural artist and retired surgeon Paul Sylvester will lead the judging panel that includes Nikky Fisher and Deb MacDonald Brown.

The panel will work with teachers and students to plan the mural design and it will be looking for six entries that will be combined to make the three panels.

Mural entries will also be displayed publicly on Labour weekend ahead of the official judging the Monday, October 26.

Then from October 27 through to November 27, students will paint the final mural with donated brushes and acrylic paint. The completed panels will be installed by TCDC staff and contractors.

'A public celebratory launch will be held in December before the end of school term and gracing the Porritt Park playground in time for the summer peak season.”

Council says if students are in need of inspiration, themes for their murals could include Thames' history, especially that relating to Maori stories.

'Porritt Park is near to the site of early settlements, wharenui and gardens, while park itself was once a peace playground established after World War One, with redevelopment by the Lions' Club in 1972.

'Other source of inspiration includes the birds seen on the wetlands along the shore of the Firth of Thames.

'You can set up at Forest and Bird's bird hide by Goldfields' Mall or follow the underfoot gallery up to Moanatairari and on to Kuranui Bay for great views of shorebirds, mudflats, stunning sunsets and more.”

All mural entries must be submitted on A3 size paper (or 2 x A4 pages together) and be delivered to the Thames-Coromandel District Council offices by Friday, October 16.

For more information, contact Mr Paul Silvester on 022-309-2099 or 07-868-9346.