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New toilets have been lowered into place at Thames' Porritt Park and is the first works in a series of transformations taking place this summer.

Parks manager Derek Thompson says upgrading the facilities also allows the Thames-Coromandel District Council to make sure two of the five stalls meet Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council says the new toilets at Porritt Park were lowered into place on Wednesday. Photos: TCDC

'For example,” explains Derek, 'the new toilets are being installed closer to the main playground, with three unisex stalls that open on the footpath side of the building and two more unisex stalls that open directly into the playground.

'That means children will not have to go outside the fenced area of the playground to use the toilets, a comfort for parents who have more than one child to watch.”

For one Thames mother, who provided the council with feedback on the new toilets, she believes it will be much safer having access to toilets for the children right within the play area.

'At the moment, my daughter has to leave the playground to go to the toilet,” the mother says.

'But these new ones finally have stalls opening into the playground so parents can keep an eye on children using the toilets at the same time as being with the other children in the playground.”

Parents will also be pleased that one of those stalls will also incorporate a nappy-changing station.

The new stalls also features council's new disability standards and there will also be a portico, which is a kind of porch that we're putting in over the L-shaped toilet block.

'So if you've stopped your car and have to wait, you'll have cover from the rain, or on hot summer days, shade from the sun,” adds Derek.

Along with the new toilets, council will also work with local school students on a whole new revamp of the play area.

Parawai, St Francis, Thames South, Moanataiari and Te Puru primary school students have been researching and consulting with their fellow students on new playground design.

This also includes listening to playground equipment manufacturers pitching their equipment, prioritising equipment by favourites and budget.

Council says the students have taken the task seriously and have presented research and survey results to the whole group plus council staff, Lions Club representatives and Thames Community Board member and Councillor Diane Connors.

'Students also questioned manufacturers about equipment warrantees, bespoke designs and their willingness to work with other equipment manufacturers,” says council.

'A new playground layout will be designed around the final choices and then work will begin on that phase of the Porritt Park transformation.”

The playground area is now officially a construction zone and will require everyone with permission to be on site to wear safety equipment anywhere inside the fenced-off area.

While the new toilet block is completed, the existing block will continue to be in use.

Council also advises locals that over the next few weeks there will be some minor temporary disruption while the crane is required at the site.

'We thank you in advance for your patience while our contractors continue to be in and out over the next couple of months,” says the council.